Golf ball containing liquid crystal polymer

ABSTRACT

This invention pertains to a golf ball which includes a core, optionally one or more intermediate layers; and an outer cover layer. The outer cover layer and/or one or more intermediate layers (if present) includes a blend of from about 2 to about 60 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) of an liquid crystalline polymer (“LCP”) having the general formula; 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     and from about 40 to about 98 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) of one or more additional polymer components.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/577,585, which was filed on Dec. 19, 2011, and is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sports equipment in general and moreparticularly to golf balls comprising a particular composition suitablefor use in golf ball manufacture. In one embodiment, the presentinvention is used in the manufacture of a golf ball comprising a core, acover layer and, optionally, one or more inner cover layers. In onepreferred embodiment, a golf ball is disclosed in which at least oneintermediate layer comprises the novel composition of the presentinvention. In another preferred embodiment, a golf ball is disclosed inwhich the outer cover layer comprises the novel composition of thepresent invention.

Description of Related Art

The application of synthetic polymer chemistry to the field of sportsequipment has revolutionized the performance of athletes in many sports.One sport in which this is particularly true is golf, especially asrelates to advances in golf ball performance and ease of manufacture.For instance, the earliest golf balls consisted of a leather coverfilled with wet feathers. These “feathery” golf balls were subsequentlyreplaced with a single piece golf ball made from “gutta percha,” anaturally occurring rubber-like material. In the early 1900's, the woundrubber ball was introduced, consisting of a solid rubber core aroundwhich rubber thread was tightly wound with a gutta percha cover.

More modern golf balls can be classified as one-piece, two-piece,three-piece or multi-layered golf balls. One-piece balls are molded froma homogeneous mass of material with a dimple pattern molded thereon.One-piece balls are inexpensive and very durable, but typically do notprovide great distance because of relatively high spin and low velocity.Two-piece balls are made by molding a cover around a solid rubber core.These are the most popular types of balls in use today. In attempts tofurther modify the ball performance, especially in terms of the distancesuch balls travel, and the spin and the feel transmitted to the golferthrough the club on striking the ball, the basic two piece ballconstruction has been further modified by the introduction of additionallayers between the core and outer cover layer. If one additional layeris introduced between the core and outer cover layer a so called“three-piece ball” results, if two additional layers are introducedbetween the core and outer cover layer, a so called “four-piece ball”results, and so on.

Golf ball covers were previously made from balata rubber which wasfavored by some players because the softness of the cover allowed themto achieve spin rates sufficient to allow more precise control of balldirection and distance, particularly on shorter approach shots. Howeverbalata-covered balls, although exhibiting high spin and soft feel, wereoften deficient in terms of the durability of the cover which had apropensity to shear and also the velocity of the ball when it leaves theclub face (which in turn affects the distance the ball travels).

The distance a golf ball travels is directly related to the coefficientof restitution (“C.O.R.”) of the ball. The coefficient of restitution ofa one-piece golf ball is in part a function of the ball's composition.In a two-piece or a multi-layered golf ball, the coefficient ofrestitution is a function of the properties of the core, the cover andany additional layer. While there are no United States Golf Association(“USGA”) limitations on the coefficient of restitution values of a golfball, the USGA requires that the golf ball cannot exceed an initialvelocity of 255 feet/second. As a result, golf ball manufacturersgenerally seek to maximize the coefficient of restitution of a ballwithout violating the velocity limitation.

Accordingly, a variety of golf ball constructions have been developed inan attempt to provide spin rates and a feel approaching those of balatacovered balls, while also providing a golf ball with a higher durabilityand overall distance. This has resulted in the emergence of balls, whichhave a solid rubber core, a cover, and one or more so calledintermediate layers, as well as the application of new materials to eachof these components.

A material which has been often utilized in more modern golf ballsincludes the various ionomer resins developed in the mid-1960's, by E.I.DuPont de Nemours and Co., and sold under the trademark SURLYN®. Theseionomer resins have, to a large extent, replaced balata as a golf ballcover stock material. Preparation of such ionomers is well known, forexample see U.S. Pat. No. 3,264,272. Generally speaking, commercialionomers consist of a polymer of a mono-olefin, e.g., an alkene, with anunsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid having 3 to 12 carbon atoms. Anadditional monomer in the form of a mono- or dicarboxylic acid ester mayalso be incorporated in the formulation as a so-called “softeningcomonomer.” The acid groups in the polymer are then neutralized tovarying degrees by addition of a neutralizing agent in the form of abasic metal salt.

More recent developments in the field have attempted to utilize thevarious types of ionomers, both singly and in blend compositions tooptimize the often conflicting golf ball performance requirements ofhigh C.O.R. and ball velocity, and cover durability, with the need for aball to spin and have a so-called soft feel on shorter iron shots.However, the incorporation of more acid in the ionomer and/or increasingits degree of neutralization results in a material with increasedpolarity, and hence one which is often less compatible with otherpotential blend materials. Also increasing the acid content of theionomer while increasing C.O.R. may render the ball too hard and brittlecausing a loss of shot feel, control (i.e., the ability to spin theball) and may render the cover too brittle and prone to prematurefailure. Finally, the incorporation of more acid in the ionomer and/orincreasing its degree of neutralization typically results in an increasein melt viscosity which in turn greatly decreases the processability ofthese resins. Attempts to mediate these effects by adding softerterpolymeric ionomers to high acid ionomer compositions to adjust thehardness and improve the shot “feel” often result in concomitant loss ofC.O.R. and hence distance.

In view of the above, it is apparent that new materials for golf ballcover and intermediate layers are needed that allow the optimization ofgolf ball strength performance properties while maintainingprocessability and hardness. We have now surprisingly found that liquidcrystalline polymers and their blends, when incorporated into golf ballcompositions used to make both golf ball cover and/or intermediatelayers can deliver improvements in both golf ball performance andstrength properties while maintaining processability and hardness.

SUMMARY

This invention pertains to a golf ball which includes a core, optionallyone or more intermediate layers; and an outer cover layer. The outercover layer includes a blend of about 2 to about 60 wt % (based on thetotal weight of the blend composition) of a liquid crystalline polymer(“LCP”) having the general formula;

The LCP component includes approximately 10 to 90 mole percent of moietyX, and approximately 10 to 90 mole percent of moiety Y, and optionallyeach of the aromatic rings may include substitution of at least one ormore of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ring with asubstituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halo group,and any and all mixtures thereof. The blend also includes from about 40to about 98 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) ofone or more additional polymer components. The blend composition has amelt flow index (MFI) from about 1 to about 80 g/10 min., a materialhardness of about 20 to about 90 Shore D, and a flex modulus of about 1to about 120 kpsi.

In one aspect the invention pertains to a golf ball which includes acore, one or more intermediate layers; and an outer cover layer. The oneor more intermediate layers includes a blend of about 2 to about 60 wt %(based on the total weight of the blend composition) of a liquidcrystalline polymer (“LCP”) having the general formula;

The LCP component includes approximately 10 to 90 mole percent of moietyX, and approximately 10 to 90 mole percent of moiety Y, and optionallyeach of the aromatic rings may include substitution of at least one ormore of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ring with asubstituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halo group,and any and all mixtures thereof. The blend also includes from about 40to about 98 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) ofone or more additional polymer components. The blend composition has amelt flow index (MFI) from about 1 to about 80 g/10 min., a materialhardness of about 20 to about 90 Shore D, and a flex modulus of about 1to about 120 kpsi.

In another aspect the invention pertains to a two piece ball having onlya core and an outer cover layer which has a thickness of about 0.015 toabout 0.100 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured on the ball offrom about 30 to about 75. The outer cover layer includes a blend ofabout 2 to about 60 wt % (based on the total weight of the blendcomposition) of a liquid crystalline polymer (“LCP”) having the generalformula;

The LCP component includes approximately 10 to 90 mole percent of moietyX, and approximately 10 to 90 mole percent of moiety Y, and optionallyeach of the aromatic rings may include substitution of at least one ormore of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ring with asubstituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halo group,and any and all mixtures thereof. The blend also includes from about 40to about 98 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) ofone or more additional polymer components. The blend composition has amelt flow index (MFI) from about 1 to about 80 g/10 min., a materialhardness of about 20 to about 90 Shore D, and a flex modulus of about 1to about 120 kpsi.

In another aspect, the invention pertains to a three piece golf ballhaving only a core, an outer cover layer which has a thickness fromabout 0.015 to about 0.100 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured onthe ball of from about 30 to about 75, and an intermediate layer havinga thickness from about 0.010 to about 0.400 inches and a Shore Dhardness as measured on the ball of greater than about 25. Theintermediate layer includes a blend of about 2 to about 60 wt % (basedon the total weight of the blend composition) of a liquid crystallinepolymer (“LCP”) having the general formula;

The LCP component includes approximately 10 to 90 mole percent of moietyX, and approximately 10 to 90 mole percent of moiety Y, and optionallyeach of the aromatic rings may include substitution of at least one ormore of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ring with asubstituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halo group,and any and all mixtures thereof. The blend also includes from about 40to about 98 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) ofone or more additional polymer components. The blend composition has amelt flow index (MFI) from about 1 to about 80 g/10 min., a materialhardness of about 20 to about 90 Shore D, and a flex modulus of about 1to about 120 kpsi.

In another aspect, the invention pertains to a four piece golf ballhaving only a core, an inner intermediate layer having a thickness fromabout 0.010 to about 0.400 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured onthe ball of greater than about 25, an outer intermediate layer having athickness from about 0.010 to about 0.400 inches and a Shore D hardnessas measured on the ball of greater than about 25, and an outer coverlayer having a thickness from about 0.015 to about 0.100 inches and aShore D hardness as measured on the ball of from about 30 to about 75.The outer intermediate layer includes a blend of about 2 to about 60 wt% (based on the total weight of the blend composition) of a liquidcrystalline polymer (“LCP”) having the general formula;

The LCP component includes approximately 10 to 90 mole percent of moietyX, and approximately 10 to 90 mole percent of moiety Y, and optionallyeach of the aromatic rings may include substitution of at least one ormore of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ring with asubstituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halo group,and any and all mixtures thereof. The blend also includes from about 40to about 98 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) ofone or more additional polymer components. The blend composition has amelt flow index (MFI) from about 1 to about 80 g/10 min., a materialhardness of about 20 to about 90 Shore D, and a flex modulus of about 1to about 120 kpsi.

In another aspect, the invention pertains to a five piece golf ballhaving only a core, an inner intermediate layer having a thickness fromabout 0.010 to about 0.400 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured onthe ball of greater than about 25, an intermediate intermediate layerhaving a thickness from about 0.010 to about 0.400 inches and a Shore Dhardness as measured on the ball of greater than about 25, an outerintermediate layer having a thickness of about 0.010 to about 0.400inches and a Shore D hardness as measured on the ball of greater thanabout 25, and an outer cover layer having a thickness from about 0.015to about 0.100 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured on the ball offrom about 30 to about 75. The outer intermediate layer includes a blendof about 2 to about 60 wt % (based on the total weight of the blendcomposition) of a liquid crystalline polymer (“LCP”) having the generalformula;

The LCP component includes approximately 10 to 90 mole percent of moietyX, and approximately 10 to 90 mole percent of moiety Y, and optionallyeach of the aromatic rings may include substitution of at least one ormore of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ring with asubstituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halo group,and any and all mixtures thereof. The blend also includes from about 40to about 98 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) ofone or more additional polymer components. The blend composition has amelt flow index (MFI) from about 1 to about 80 g/10 min., a materialhardness of about 20 to about 90 Shore D, and a flex modulus of about 1to about 120 kpsi.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a three-piece golf ball 1 comprising a solid centeror core 2, an intermediate layer 3, and an outer cover layer 4.

FIG. 2 illustrates a four-piece golf ball 1 comprising a core 2, and anouter cover layer 5, an inner intermediate layer 3, and an outerintermediate layer 4.

Although FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate only three- and four-piece golf ballconstructions, golf balls of the present invention may comprise from 1to at least 5 intermediate layer(s), preferably from 1 to 3 intermediatelayer(s), more preferably from 1 to 2 intermediate layer(s).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lowervalue to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that thereis a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and anyhigher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of acomponent or a value of a process variable is from 1 to 90, preferablyfrom 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that valuessuch as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. are expresslyenumerated in this specification. For values, which have less than oneunit difference, one unit is considered to be 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, or0.0001 as appropriate. Thus all possible combinations of numericalvalues between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated hereinare said to be expressly stated in this application.

The term “bimodal polymer” refers to a polymer comprising two mainfractions and more specifically to the form of the polymers molecularweight distribution curve, i.e., the appearance of the graph of thepolymer weight fraction as function of its molecular weight. When themolecular weight distribution curves from these fractions aresuperimposed into the molecular weight distribution curve for the totalresulting polymer product, that curve will show two maxima or at leastbe distinctly broadened in comparison with the curves for the individualfractions. Such a polymer product is called bimodal. It is to be notedhere that also the chemical compositions of the two fractions may bedifferent.

As used herein, the term “block copolymer” is intended to mean a polymercomprising two or more homopolymer subunits linked by covalent bonds.The union of the homopolymer subunits may require an intermediatenon-repeating subunit, known as a junction block. Block copolymers withtwo or three distinct blocks are called diblock copolymers and triblockcopolymers, respectively.

The term “core” is intended to mean the elastic center of a golf ball.The core may be a unitary core having a center it may have one or more“core layers” of elastic material, which are usually made of rubberymaterial such as diene rubbers.

The term “cover layer” is intended to mean the outermost layer of thegolf ball; this is the layer that is directly in contact with paintand/or ink on the surface of the golf ball. If the cover consists of twoor more layers, only the outermost layer is designated the cover layer,and the remaining layers (excluding the outermost layer) are commonlydesignated intermediate layers as herein defined. The term “outer coverlayer” as used herein is used interchangeably with the term “coverlayer.”

The term “fiber” as used herein is a general term for which thedefinition given in Engineered Materials Handbook, Vol. 2, “EngineeringPlastics”, published by A.S.M. International, Metals Park, Ohio, USA, isrelied upon to refer to filamentary materials with a finite length thatis at least 100 times its diameter, which is typically 0.10 to 0.13 mm(0.004 to 0.005 in.). Fibers can be continuous or specific short lengths(discontinuous), normally no less than 3.2 mm (⅛ in.). Although fibersaccording to this definition are preferred, fiber segments, i.e., partsof fibers having lengths less than the aforementioned are alsoconsidered to be encompassed by the invention. Thus, the terms “fibers”and “fiber segments” are used herein. In the claims appearing at the endof this disclosure in particular, the expression “fibers or fibersegments” and “fiber elements” are used to encompass both fibers andfiber segments.

The term “hydrocarbyl” is intended to mean any aliphatic,cycloaliphatic, aromatic, aryl substituted aliphatic, aryl substitutedcycloaliphatic, aliphatic substituted aromatic, or cycloaliphaticsubstituted aromatic groups. The aliphatic or cycloaliphatic groups arepreferably saturated. Likewise, the term “hydrocarbyloxy” means ahydrocarbyl group having an oxygen linkage between it and the carbonatom to which it is attached.

The term “intermediate layer” may be used interchangeably herein withthe terms “mantle layer” or “inner cover layer” and is intended to meanany layer(s) in a golf ball disposed between the core and the outercover layer. Should a ball have more than one intermediate layer, thesemay be distinguished as “inner intermediate layer” or “inner mantlelayer” which terms may be used interchangeably to refer to theintermediate layer nearest the core and furthest from the outer cover,as opposed to the “outer intermediate layer” or “outer mantle layer”which terms may also used interchangeably to refer to the intermediatelayer furthest from the core and closest to the outer cover, and ifthere are three intermediate layers, these may be distinguished as“inner intermediate layer” or “inner mantle layer” which terms are usedinterchangeably to refer to the intermediate or mantle layer nearest thecore and furthest from the outer cover, as opposed to the “outerintermediate layer” or “outer mantle layer” which terms are also usedinterchangeably to refer to the intermediate layer further from the coreand closer to the outer cover, and as opposed to the “intermediateintermediate layer” or “intermediate mantle layer” which terms are alsoused interchangeably to refer to the intermediate layer between theinner intermediate layer and the outer intermediate layer.

The term “(meth)acrylic acid copolymers” is intended to mean copolymersof methacrylic acid and/or acrylic acid.

The term “(meth)acrylate” is intended to mean an ester of methacrylicacid and/or acrylic acid.

The term “partially neutralized” is intended to mean an ionomer with adegree of neutralization of less than 100 percent. The term “highlyneutralized” is intended to mean an ionomer with a degree ofneutralization of greater than 50 percent. The term “fully neutralized”is intended to mean an ionomer with a degree of neutralization of 100percent.

The term “prepolymer” as used herein is intended to mean any polymericmaterial that can be further processed to form a final polymer materialof a manufactured golf ball, such as, by way of example and notlimitation, a polymerized or partially polymerized material that canundergo additional processing, such as crosslinking.

The term “sports equipment” refers to any item of sports equipment suchas sports clothing, boots, sneakers, clogs, sandals, slip on sandals andshoes, golf shoes, tennis shoes, running shoes, athletic shoes, hikingshoes, skis, ski masks, ski boots, cycling shoes, soccer boots, golfclubs, golf bags, and the like.

The term “thermoplastic” as used herein is intended to mean a materialthat is capable of softening or melting when heated and of hardeningagain when cooled. Thermoplastic polymer chains often are notcross-linked or are lightly crosslinked using a chain extender, but theterm “thermoplastic” as used herein may refer to materials thatinitially act as thermoplastics, such as during an initial extrusionprocess or injection molding process, but which also may be crosslinked,such as during a compression molding step to form a final structure.

The term “thermoset” as used herein is intended to mean a material thatcrosslinks or cures via interaction with as crosslinking or curingagent. Crosslinking may be induced by energy, such as heat (generallyabove 200° C.), through a chemical reaction (by reaction with a curingagent), or by irradiation. The resulting composition remains rigid whenset, and does not soften with heating. Thermosets have this propertybecause the long-chain polymer molecules cross-link with each other togive a rigid structure. A thermoset material cannot be melted andre-molded after it is cured. Thus thermosets do not lend themselves torecycling unlike thermoplastics, which can be melted and re-molded.

The term “thermoplastic polyurethane” as used herein is intended to meana material prepared by reaction of a prepared by reaction of adiisocyanate with a polyol, and optionally addition of a chain extender.

The term “thermoplastic polyurea” as used herein is intended to mean amaterial prepared by reaction of a prepared by reaction of adiisocyanate with a poly⁻amine, with optionally addition of a chainextender.

The term “thermoset polyurethane” as used herein is intended to mean amaterial prepared by reaction of a diisocyanate with a polyol (or aprepolymer of the two), and a curing agent.

The term “thermoset polyurea” as used herein is intended to mean amaterial prepared by reaction of a diisocyanate with a polyamine (or aprepolymer of the two) and a curing agent.

The term “unimodal polymer” refers to a polymer comprising one mainfraction and more specifically to the form of the polymers molecularweight distribution curve, i.e., the molecular weight distribution curvefor the total polymer product shows only a single maximum.

The term “urethane prepolymer” as used herein is intended to mean thereaction product of diisocyanate and a polyol.

The term “urea prepolymer” as used herein is intended to mean thereaction product of a diisocyanate and a polyamine.

The term “zwitterion” as used herein is intended to mean a form of thecompound having both an amine group and carboxylic acid group, whereboth are charged and where the net charge on the compound is neutral.

The present invention can be used in forming golf balls of any desiredsize. “The Rules of Golf” by the USGA dictate that the size of acompetition golf ball must be at least 1.680 inches in diameter;however, golf balls of any size can be used for leisure golf play. Thepreferred diameter of the golf balls is from about 1.680 inches to about1.800 inches. The more preferred diameter is from about 1.680 inches toabout 1.760 inches. A diameter of from about 1.680 inches to about 1.740inches is most preferred; however diameters anywhere in the range offrom 1.70 to about 2.0 inches can be used. Oversize golf balls withdiameters above about 1.760 inches to as big as 2.75 inches are alsowithin the scope of the invention.

The term Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) as used herein is intended to meanthe family of polymers which are liquid crystalline (i.e., anisotropic)in the melt phase. Thermotropic liquid crystal polymers include whollyaromatic polyesters, aromatic-aliphatic polyesters, aromaticpolyazomethines, and aromatic polyester-carbonates. The aromaticpolyesters are considered to be “wholly” aromatic in the sense that eachmoiety present in the polyester contributes at least one aromatic ringto the polymer backbone. Liquid crystal polymers are capable of formingregions of highly ordered structure while in the liquid phase. However,the degree of order is somewhat less than that of a regular solidcrystal. Specific examples of suitable aromatic-aliphatic polyesters arecopolymers of polyethylene terephthalate and hydroxybenzoic acid asdisclosed in Polyester X7G-A Self Reinforced Thermoplastic, by W. J.Jackson, Jr., H. F. Kuhfuss, and T. F. Gray, Jr., 30th AnniversaryTechnical Conference, 1975 Reinforced Plastics/Composites Institute, TheSociety of the Plastics Industry, Inc., Section 17-D, Pages 1-4. Afurther disclosure of such copolymer can be found in “Liquid CrystalPolymers: I. Preparation and Properties of p-Hydroxybenzoic AcidCopolymers,” Journal of Polymer Science, Polymer Chemistry Edition, Vol.14, pp. 2043-58 (1976), by W. J. Jackson, Jr. and H. F. Kuhfuss. Theabove-cited references are herein incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

Virtually any LCP, or combination of LCP's, may be used in the practiceof this invention. Many such polymers and methods for making them areknown to those skilled in the art. The liquid crystal polymers which arepreferred for use in the process of the present invention are thethermotropic wholly aromatic polyesters. Publications disclosing suchpolyesters include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,991,013; 3,991,014; 4,057,597;4,066,620; 4,075,262; 4,118,372; 4,146,702; 4,153,779; 4,156,070;4,159,365; 4,169,933; 4,181,792; and 4,188,476; 4,067,852; 4,083,829;4,130,545; 4,161,470; 4,184,996; 4,238,599; 4,238,598); 4,230,817);4,224,433); 4,219,461 and 4,256,624. The disclosures of all of theabove-identified U.S. patents are herein incorporated by reference intheir entirety.

The wholly aromatic polyesters which are preferred for use in thepresent invention commonly exhibit a weight average molecular weight offrom about 2,000 to about 200,000, preferably of from about 10,000 toabout 50,000, and more preferably of from about 20,000 to about 25,000.Such molecular weight may be determined by standard techniques notinvolving the dissolution of the polymer, e.g., by end groupdetermination via infrared spectroscopy on compression molded films.Alternatively, light scattering techniques in a pentafluorophenolsolution may be employed to determine the molecular weight.

The wholly aromatic polyesters exhibit an inherent viscosity (i.e.,I.V.) of from about 2.0 to about 10.0 dl./g., when dissolved in aconcentration of 0. 1 percent by weight in pentafluorophenol at 60° C.

The liquid crystal polymers (“LCP's”) used in the golf balls of thepresent invention preferably include those having the general formulashown below and where each of the aromatic rings may includesubstitution of at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon anaromatic ring with said optional substitution if present being selectedfrom the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, analkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, chloro, bromo, and any and allmixtures thereof.

The LCP preferably comprises of from about 10 to 90 mole percent ofmoiety X, and of from about 10 to 90 mole percent of moiety Y,preferably of from about 65 to 85 mole percent of moiety X and of fromabout 15 to 35 mole percent of moiety Y, and more preferably of fromabout 70 to 80 mole percent of moiety X and of from about 20 to 30 molepercent of moiety Y. In a most preferred embodiment the recurringmoieties X and Y are the sole moieties present and are free of ringsubstitution.

One preferred type of LCP is VECTRA® A resin, a polymer comprisingmonomer units derived from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (73 mole %) and6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (27 mole %) (available from Hoechst CelaneseCorp.); two particularly preferred grades of this polymer are VECTRA®A910 and VECTRA® A950. Other preferred LCP's available from HoechstCelanese Corp. include VECTRA® B resin, a polymer comprising monomerunits derived from 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (60 mole %), terephthalicacid (20%), and p-acetaminophenol (20%), VECTRA® C resin, a polymercomprising monomer units derived from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (80%) and6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (20%), and VECTRA® E resin, a polymercomprising monomer units derived from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (60 mole %),6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (5%), terephthalic acid (17.5%), and biphenol(17.5%).

The LCP's may be used directly to prepare the cover and/or intermediatelayers of the golf balls of the present invention or may be used inblends with other materials, which other materials may also be used as aseparate component of the core, cover layer or intermediate layer of thegolf balls of the present invention. These other materials include,without limitation, synthetic and natural rubbers, thermoset polymerssuch as thermoset polyurethanes or thermoset polyureas, as well asthermoplastic polymers including thermoplastic elastomers such asmetallocene catalyzed polymer, unimodal ethylene/carboxylic acidcopolymers, unimodal ethylene/carboxylic acid/carboxylate terpolymers,bimodal ethylene/carboxylic acid copolymers, bimodal ethylene/carboxylicacid/carboxylate terpolymers, thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplasticpolyureas, polyamides, copolyamides, polyesters, copolyesters,polycarbonates, polyolefins, halogenated (e.g. chlorinated) polyolefins,halogenated polyalkylene compounds, such as halogenated polyethylene[e.g. chlorinated polyethylene (CPE)], polyalkenamer, polyphenyleneoxides, polyphenylene sulfides, diallyl phthalate polymers, polyim ides,polyvinyl chlorides, polyamide-ionomers, polyurethane-ionomers,polyvinyl alcohols, polyarylates, polyacrylates, polyphenylene ethers,impact-modified polyphenylene ethers, polystyrenes, high impactpolystyrenes, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers,styrene-acrylonitriles (SAN), acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylonitriles,styrene-maleic anhydride (S/MA) polymers, styrenic block copolymersincluding styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS),styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene, (SEBS) andstyrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene (SEPS), styrenic terpolymers,functionalized styrenic block copolymers including hydroxylated,functionalized styrenic copolymers, and terpolymers, cellulosicpolymers, liquid crystal polymers (LCP), ethylene-propylene-dieneterpolymers (EPDM), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA),ethylene-propylene copolymers, propylene elastomers (such as thosedescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,157, to Kim et al, the entire contentsof which is hereby incorporated by reference), ethylene vinyl acetates,polyureas, and polysiloxanes and any and all combinations thereof.

One preferred material to use as a blend component with the LCP andwhich also may be used as a separate component of the cover layer orintermediate layer of the golf balls of the present invention is a blockcopolymer including di and triblock copolymers incorporating a firstpolymer block having an aromatic vinyl compound, and a second polymerblock having an olefinic and/or conjugated diene compound. Preferredaromatic vinyl compounds include styrene, α-methylstyrene, o-, m- orp-methylstyrene, 4-propylstyrene, 1,3-dimethylstyrene, vinylnaphthaleneand vinylanthracene. In particular, styrene and α-methylstyrene arepreferred. These aromatic vinyl compounds can each be used alone, or canbe used in combination of two or more kinds. The aromatic vinyl compoundis preferably contained in the block copolymer in an amount of from 5 to75% by weight, and more preferably from 10 to 65% by weight.

The conjugated diene compound, that constitutes another polymer block inthe block copolymer can include for example, 1,3-butadiene, isoprene,2,3-diemthyl-1,3-butadiene, 1,3-pentadiene and 1,3-hexadiene. Inparticular, isoprene and 1,3-butadiene are preferred. These conjugateddiene compounds can each be used alone, or can be used in combination oftwo or more kinds.

Preferred block copolymers include the styrenic block copolymers such asstyrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene,(SEBS) and styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene (SEPS). Commercialexamples include SEPTON® marketed by Kuraray Company of Kurashiki,Japan; TOPRENE® by Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd and KRATON® marketed byKraton Polymers. Also included are functionalized styrenic blockcopolymers, including those where the block copolymer incorporates afirst polymer block having an aromatic vinyl compound, a second polymerblock having a conjugated diene compound and a hydroxyl group located ata block copolymer, or its hydrogenation product. One such functionalizedstyrenic block copolymer is SEPTON® HG-252.

Another preferred material to which the LCP may be added and which alsomay be used as a separate component of the cover layer or intermediatelayer of the golf balls of the present invention is an acidic polymerthat incorporates at least one type of an acidic functional group.Examples of such acidic polymers suitable for use as include, but arenot limited to, ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymers andethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate terpolymers, orethylene and/or propylene maleic anhydride copolymers and terpolymers.Examples of such polymers which are commercially available include, butare not limited to, the ESCOR® 5000, 5001, 5020, 5050, 5070, 5100, 5110and 5200 series of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers sold by Exxon Mobil,the PRIMACOR® 1321, 1410, 1410-XT, 1420, 1430, 2912, 3150, 3330, 3340,3440, 3460, 4311, 4608 and 5980 series of ethylene-acrylic acidcopolymers sold by The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich. and theethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers such as NUCREL® 599, 699, 0903,0910, 925, 960, 2806, and 2906 sold by DuPont

Also included are the so called bimodal ethylene/carboxylic acidpolymers as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,562,906, the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference. These polymers comprise a firstcomponent comprising an ethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈carboxylic acid high copolymer, particularly ethylene (meth)acrylic acidcopolymers and ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acidterpolymers, having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about80,000 to about 500,000, and a second component comprising anethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈ carboxylic acid copolymers,particularly ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymers having weightaverage molecular weight, Mw, of about 2,000 to about 30,000.

Another preferred material to which the LCP may be added and which alsomay be used as a separate component of the cover layer or intermediatelayer of the golf balls of the present invention is an ionomer resin.One family of such resins was developed in the mid-1960's, by E.I.DuPont de Nemours and Co., and is sold under the trademark SURLYN®.Preparation of such ionomers is well known, for example see U.S. Pat.No. 3,264,272. Generally speaking, most commercial ionomers are unimodaland consist of a polymer of a mono-olefin, e.g., an alkene, with anunsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acids having 3 to 12 carbon atoms. Anadditional monomer in the form of a mono- or dicarboxylic acid ester mayalso be incorporated in the formulation as a so-called “softeningcomonomer”. The incorporated carboxylic acid groups are then neutralizedby a basic metal ion salt, to form the ionomer. The metal cations of thebasic metal ion salt used for neutralization include Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Zn²⁺,Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Mg²⁺, with the Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, andMg²⁺ being preferred. The basic metal ion salts include those of forexample formic acid, acetic acid, nitric acid, and carbonic acid,hydrogen carbonate salts, oxides, hydroxides, and alkoxides.

The first commercially available ionomer resins contained up to 16weight percent acrylic or methacrylic acid, although it was also wellknown at that time that, as a general rule, the hardness of these covermaterials could be increased with increasing acid content. Hence, inResearch Disclosure 29703, published in January 1989, DuPont disclosedionomers based on ethylene/acrylic acid or ethylene/methacrylic acidcontaining acid contents of greater than 15 weight percent. In this samedisclosure, DuPont also taught that such so called “high acid ionomers”had significantly improved stiffness and hardness and thus could beadvantageously used in golf ball construction, when used either singlyor in a blend with other ionomers.

More recently, high acid ionomers can be ionomer resins with acrylic ormethacrylic acid units present from 16 wt. % to about 35 wt. % in thepolymer. Generally, such a high acid ionomer will have a flexuralmodulus from about 50,000 psi to about 125,000 psi.

Ionomer resins further comprising a softening comonomer, present fromabout 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. % in the polymer, have a flexural modulusfrom about 2,000 psi to about 10,000 psi, and are sometimes referred toas “soft” or “very low modulus” ionomers. Typical softening comonomersinclude n-butyl acrylate, iso-butyl acrylate, n-butyl methacrylate,methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate.

Today, there are a wide variety of commercially available ionomer resinsbased both on copolymers of ethylene and (meth)acrylic acid orterpolymers of ethylene and (meth)acrylic acid and (meth)acrylate, manyof which are be used as a golf ball component. The properties of theseionomer resins can vary widely due to variations in acid content,softening comonomer content, the degree of neutralization, and the typeof metal ion used in the neutralization. The full range commerciallyavailable typically includes ionomers of polymers of general formula,E/X/Y polymer, wherein E is ethylene, X is a C₃ to C₈ α,β ethylenicallyunsaturated carboxylic acid, such as acrylic or methacrylic acid, and ispresent in an amount from about 2 to about 30 weight % of the E/X/Ycopolymer, and Y is a softening comonomer selected from the groupconsisting of alkyl acrylate and alkyl methacrylate, such as methylacrylate or methyl methacrylate, and wherein the alkyl groups have from1-8 carbon atoms, Y is in the range of 0 to about 50 weight % of theE/X/Y copolymer, and wherein the acid groups present in said ionomericpolymer are partially neutralized with a basic metal salt with metalions selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium,magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, tin, zinc or aluminum, or acombination of such cations.

The ionomer may also be a so-called bimodal ionomer as described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,562,906 (the entire contents of which are herein incorporatedby reference). These ionomers are bimodal as they are prepared fromblends comprising polymers of different molecular weights. Specificallythey include bimodal polymer blend compositions comprising:

a) a high molecular weight component having a weight average molecularweight, Mw, of about 80,000 to about 500,000 and comprising one or moreethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈ carboxylic acid copolymersand/or one or more ethylene, alkyl(meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acidterpolymers; said high molecular weight component being partiallyneutralized with a basic metal salt with metal ions selected from thegroup consisting of lithium, sodium, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and amixture of any these; and

b) a low molecular weight component having a weight average molecularweight, Mw, of about from about 2,000 to about 30,000 and comprising oneor more ethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈ carboxylic acidcopolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl(meth)acrylate,(meth)acrylic acid terpolymers; said low molecular weight componentbeing partially neutralized with a basic metal salt with metal ionsselected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium,magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, tin, zinc or aluminum, and a mixtureof any these.

In addition to the unimodal and bimodal ionomers, also included are theso-called “modified ionomers” examples of which are described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,100,321, 6,329,458 and 6,616,552 and U.S. Patent PublicationUS 2003/0158312 A1, the entire contents of all of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

The modified unimodal ionomers may be prepared by mixing:

a) an ionomeric polymer comprising ethylene, from 5 to 25 weight percent(meth)acrylic acid, and from 0 to 40 weight percent of a (meth)acrylatemonomer, said ionomeric polymer neutralized with a basic metal salt withmetal ions selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium,potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, tin, zinc or aluminum, andany and all mixtures thereof; and

b) from about 5 to about 40 weight percent (based on the total weight ofsaid modified ionomeric polymer) of one or more fatty acids or metalsalts of said fatty acid, the metal salt having metal ions selected fromthe group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium,barium, lead, tin, zinc or aluminum, and any and all mixtures thereof;and the fatty acid preferably being stearic acid.

The modified bimodal ionomers, which are ionomers derived from theearlier described bimodal ethylene/carboxylic acid polymers (asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,562,906, the entire contents of which areherein incorporated by reference), are prepared by mixing;

a) a high molecular weight component having a weight average molecularweight, Mw, of about 80,000 to about 500,000 and comprising one or moreethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈ carboxylic acid copolymersand/or one or more ethylene, alkyl(meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acidterpolymers; said high molecular weight component being partiallyneutralized with a basic metal salt with metal ions selected from thegroup consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium,barium, lead, tin, zinc or aluminum, and any and all mixtures thereof;and

b) a low molecular weight component having a weight average molecularweight, Mw, of about from about 2,000 to about 30,000 and comprising oneor more ethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈ carboxylic acidcopolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate,(meth)acrylic acid terpolymers; said low molecular weight componentbeing partially neutralized with a basic metal salt with metal ionsselected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium,magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, tin, zinc or aluminum, and any and allmixtures thereof; and

c) from about 5 to about 40 weight percent (based on the total weight ofsaid modified ionomeric polymer) of one or more fatty acids or metalsalts of said fatty acid, the metal salt having metal ions selected fromthe group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium,barium, lead, tin, zinc or aluminum, and any and all mixtures thereof;and the fatty acid preferably being stearic acid.

The fatty or waxy acid salts utilized in the various modified ionomersare composed of a chain of alkyl groups containing from about 4 to 75carbon atoms (usually even numbered) and characterized by a —COOHterminal group. The fatty or waxy acids utilized to produce the fatty orwaxy acid salts modifiers may be saturated or unsaturated, and they maybe present in solid, semi-solid or liquid form.

Examples of suitable saturated fatty acids, i.e., fatty acids in whichthe carbon atoms of the alkyl chain are connected by single bonds,include but are not limited to stearic acid (CH₃(CH₂)₁₆ COOH), palmiticacid (CH₃ (CH₂)₁₄COOH), pelargonic acid (CH₃ (CH₂)₇ COOH) and lauricacid (CH₃ (CH₂)₁₀ COOH). Examples of suitable unsaturated fatty acids,i.e., a fatty acid in which there are one or more double bonds betweenthe carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, include but are not limited tooleic acid (CH₃ (CH₂)₇ CH:CH(CH₂)₇ COOH).

The source of the metal ions used to produce the metal salts of thefatty or waxy acid salts used in the various modified ionomers aregenerally various metal salts which provide the metal ions capable ofneutralizing, to various extents, the carboxylic acid groups of thefatty acids. These include the sulfate, carbonate, acetate andhydroxylate salts of zinc, barium, calcium and magnesium.

Since the fatty acid salts modifiers comprise various combinations offatty acids neutralized with a large number of different metal ions,several different types of fatty acid salts may be utilized in theinvention, including metal stearates, laureates, oleates, andpalmitates, with calcium, zinc, sodium, lithium, potassium and magnesiumstearate being preferred, and calcium and sodium stearate being mostpreferred.

The fatty or waxy acid or metal salt of said fatty or waxy acid ispresent in the modified ionomeric polymers in an amount of from about 5to about 40, preferably from about 7 to about 35, more preferably fromabout 8 to about 20 weight percent (based on the total weight of saidmodified ionomeric polymer).

As a result of the addition of the one or more metal salts of a fatty orwaxy acid, from about 40 to 100, preferably from about 50 to 100, morepreferably from about 70 to 100 percent of the acidic groups in thefinal modified ionomeric polymer composition are neutralized by a metalion.

An example of such a modified ionomer polymer is DUPONT® HPF-1000available from E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Co. Inc.

Another preferred material to which the LCP may be added and which alsomay be used as a separate component of the cover layer or intermediatelayer of the golf balls of the present invention is a multi-componentblend composition (“MCBC”) prepared by blending together at least threematerials, identified as Components A, B, and C, and melt-processingthese components to form in-situ, a polymer blend compositionincorporating a pseudo-crosslinked polymer network. Such blends are morefully described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,930,150 to H. J. Kim, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The first of these blend components (blend Component A) include blockcopolymers including di and triblock copolymers, incorporating a firstpolymer block having an aromatic vinyl compound, and a second polymerblock having an olefinic and/or conjugated diene compound. Preferredaromatic vinyl compounds include styrene, a-methylstyrene, o-, m- orp-methylstyrene, 4-propylstyrene, 1,3-dimethylstyrene, vinylnaphthaleneand vinylanthracene. In particular, styrene and a-methylstyrene arepreferred. These aromatic vinyl compounds can each be used alone, or canbe used in combination of two or more kinds. The aromatic vinyl compoundis preferably contained in the block copolymer (b) in an amount of from5 to 75% by weight, and more preferably from 10 to 65% by weight.

The conjugated diene compound, that constitutes the polymer block B inthe block copolymer (b), includes, e.g., 1,3-butadiene, isoprene,2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, 1,3-pentadiene and 1,3-hexadiene. Inparticular, isoprene and 1,3-butadiene are preferred. These conjugateddiene compounds can each be used alone, or can be used in combination oftwo or more kinds.

Preferred block copolymers include the styrenic block copolymers such asstyrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene,(SEBS) and styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene (SEPS). Commercialexamples include SEPTON® marketed by Kuraray Company of Kurashiki,Japan; TOPRENE® by Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd and KRATON® marketed byKraton Polymers.

Also included are functionalized styrenic block copolymers, includingthose where the block copolymer incorporates a first polymer blockhaving an aromatic vinyl compound, a second polymer block having aconjugated diene compound and a hydroxyl group located at a blockcopolymer, or its hydrogenation product. A preferred functionalizedstyrenic block copolymer is SEPTON® HG-252.

The second blend component, Component B, is an acidic polymer thatincorporates at least one type of an acidic functional group. Examplesof such polymers suitable for use as include, but are not limited to,ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymers and ethylene/(meth)acrylicacid/alkyl(meth)acrylate terpolymers, or ethylene and/or propylenemaleic anhydride copolymers and terpolymers. Examples of such polymerswhich are commercially available include, but are not limited to, theESCOR® 5000, 5001, 5020, 5050, 5070, 5100, 5110 and 5200 series ofethylene-acrylic acid copolymers sold by Exxon Mobil, the PRIMACOR®1321, 1410, 1410-XT, 1420, 1430, 2912, 3150, 3330, 3340, 3440, 3460,4311, 4608 and 5980 series of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers sold byThe Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich. and the ethylene-methacrylicacid copolymers such as NUCREL® 599, 699, 0903, 0910, 925, 960, 2806,and 2906 commercially available from DuPont.

Also included are the so called bimodal ethylene/carboxylic acidpolymers as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,562,906, the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference. These polymers comprise a firstcomponent comprising an ethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈carboxylic acid high copolymer, particularly ethylene (meth)acrylic acidcopolymers and ethylene, alkyl(meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acidterpolymers, having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about80,000 to about 500,000, and a second component comprising anethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C₃₋₈ carboxylic acid copolymers,particularly ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymers having weightaverage molecular weight, Mw, of about 2,000 to about 30,000.

Component C is a base capable of neutralizing the acidic functionalgroup of Component B and typically is a base having a metal cation.These metals are from groups IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, IVA, IVB, VA,VB, VIA, VIB, VIIB and VIIIB of the periodic table. Examples of thesemetals include lithium, sodium, magnesium, aluminum, potassium, calcium,manganese, tungsten, titanium, iron, cobalt, nickel, hafnium, copper,zinc, barium, zirconium, and tin.

Suitable metal compounds for use as a source of Component C are, forexample, metal salts, preferably metal hydroxides, metal oxides, metalcarbonates, metal acetates, metal stearates, metal laureates, metaloleates, metal palmitates and the like.

The MCBC composition preferably is prepared by mixing the abovematerials into each other thoroughly, either by using a dispersivemixing mechanism, a distributive mixing mechanism, or a combination ofthese. These mixing methods are well known in the manufacture of polymerblends. As a result of this mixing, the acidic functional group ofComponent B is dispersed evenly throughout the mixture in either theirneutralized or non-neutralized state. Most preferably, Components A andB are melt-mixed together without Component C, with or without thepremixing discussed above, to produce a melt-mixture of the twocomponents. Then, Component C separately is mixed into the blend ofComponents A and B. This mixture is melt-mixed to produce the reactionproduct. This two-step mixing can be performed in a single process, suchas, for example, an extrusion process using a proper barrel length orscrew configuration, along with a multiple feeding system.

Another preferred material to which the LCP may be added and which alsomay be used as a separate component of the cover layer or intermediatelayer of the golf balls of the present invention are the polyalkenamerswhich may be prepared by ring opening metathesis polymerization of oneor more cycloalkenes in the presence of organometallic catalysts asdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,492,245, and 3,804,803, the entirecontents of both of which are herein incorporated by reference. Examplesof suitable polyalkenamer rubbers are polypentenamer rubber,polyheptenamer rubber, polyoctenamer rubber, polydecenamer rubber andpolydodecenamer rubber. For further details concerning polyalkenamerrubber, see Rubber Chem. & Tech., Vol. 47, page 511-596, 1974, which isincorporated herein by reference.

The polyalkenamer rubbers used in the present invention have atrans-content of from about 40 to about 95, preferably of from about 45to about 90, and most preferably from about 50 to about 85 wt %, and acis-content of from about 5 to about 60, preferably of from about 10 toabout 55, and most preferably from about 15 to about 50 wt % with amelting point of greater than about 15, preferably greater than about 20more preferably greater than about 25° C. and exhibit excellent meltprocessability above their sharp melting temperatures and highmiscibility with various rubber additives as a major component withoutdeterioration of crystallinity which in turn facilitates injectionmolding. Thus, unlike synthetic rubbers typically used in golf ballpreparation, polyalkenamer-based compounds can be prepared which areinjection moldable. The polyalkenamer rubbers may also be blended withother polymers and an especially preferred blend is that of apolyalkenamer and a polyamide. A more complete description of thepolyalkenamer rubbers and blends with polyamides is disclosed in c U.S.Pat. No. 7,528,196 in the name of Hyun Kim et al., the entire contentsof which are hereby incorporated by reference. Polyoctenamer rubbers arecommercially available from Huls A G of Marl, Germany, and through itsdistributor in the U.S., Creanova Inc. of Somerset, N.J., and sold underthe trademark VESTENAMER®. Two grades of the VESTENAMER®trans-polyoctenamer are commercially available: VESTENAMER® 8012designates a material having a trans-content of approximately 80% (and acis-content of 20%) with a melting point of approximately 54° C.; andVESTENAMER® 6213 designates a material having a trans-content ofapproximately 60% (cis-content of 40%) with a melting point ofapproximately 30° C. Both of these polymers have a double bond at everyeighth carbon atom in the ring.

Another preferred material to which the LCP may be added and which alsomay be used as a separate component of the cover layer or intermediatelayer of the golf balls of the present invention is a blend of ahomopolyamide or copolyamide modified with a functional polymermodifier. Illustrative polyamides for use in the polyamide blendcompositions include those obtained by: (1) polycondensation of (a) adicarboxylic acid, such as oxalic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid,terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, or 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylicacid, with (b) a diamine, such as ethylenediamine,tetramethylenediamine, pentamethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine,decamethylenediamine, 1,4-cyclohexyldiamine or m-xylylenediamine; (2) aring-opening polymerization of cyclic lactam, such as ε-caprolactam orω-laurolactam; (3) polycondensation of an aminocarboxylic acid, such as6-aminocaproic acid, 9-aminononanoic acid, 11-aminoundecanoic acid or12-aminododecanoic acid; (4) copolymerization of a cyclic lactam with adicarboxylic acid and a diamine; or any combination of (1)-(4). Incertain examples, the dicarboxylic acid may be an aromatic dicarboxylicacid or a cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acid. In certain examples, thediamine may be an aromatic diamine or a cycloaliphatic diamine. Specificexamples of suitable polyamides include polyamide 6; polyamide 11;polyamide 12; polyamide 4,6; polyamide 6,6; polyamide 6,9; polyamide6,10; polyamide 6,12; polyamide MXD6; PA12,CX; PA12, IT; PPA; PA6, IT;and PA6/PPE.

Another preferred material to which the LCP may be added and which alsomay be used as a separate component of the cover layer or intermediatelayer of the golf balls of the present invention is the family ofpolyurethanes or polyureas which are typically prepared by reacting adiisocyanate with a polyol (in the case of polyurethanes) or with apolyamine (in the case of a polyurea). Thermoplastic polyurethanes orpolyureas may consist solely of this initial mixture or may be furthercombined with a chain extender to vary properties such as hardness ofthe thermoplastic. Thermoset polyurethanes or polyureas typically areformed by the reaction of a diisocyanate and a polyol or polyaminerespectively, and an additional crosslinking agent to crosslink or curethe material to result in a thermoset.

In what is known as a one-shot process, the three reactants,diisocyanate, polyol or polyamine, and optionally a chain extender or acuring agent, are combined in one step. Alternatively, a two-stepprocess may occur in which the first step involves reacting thediisocyanate and the polyol (in the case of polyurethane) or thepolyamine (in the case of a polyurea) to form a so-called prepolymer, towhich can then be added either the chain extender or the curing agent.This procedure is known as the prepolymer process.

In addition, although depicted as discrete component packages as above,it is also possible to control the degree of crosslinking, and hence thedegree of thermoplastic or thermoset properties in a final composition,by varying the stoichiometry not only of the diisocyanate-to-chainextender or curing agent ratio, but also the initialdiisocyanate-to-polyol or polyamine ratio. Of course in the prepolymerprocess, the initial diisocyanate-to-polyol or polyamine ratio is fixedon selection of the required prepolymer, although mixtures ofprepolymers are also contemplated.

Any isocyanate available to one of ordinary skill in the art is suitablefor use according to the invention. Isocyanates for use with the presentinvention include, but are not limited to, aliphatic, cycloaliphatic,aromatic aliphatic, aromatic, any derivatives thereof, and combinationsof these compounds having two or more isocyanate (NCO) groups permolecule. As used herein, aromatic aliphatic compounds should beunderstood as those containing an aromatic ring, wherein the isocyanategroup is not directly bonded to the ring. One example of an aromaticaliphatic compound is a tetramethylxylene diisocyanate (TMXDI). Theisocyanates may be organic polyisocyanate-terminated prepolymers, lowfree isocyanate prepolymer, and mixtures thereof. Theisocyanate-containing reactable component also may include anyisocyanate-functional monomer, dimer, trimer, or polymeric adductthereof, prepolymer, quasi-prepolymer, or mixtures thereof.Isocyanate-functional compounds may include monoisocyanates orpolyisocyanates that include any isocyanate functionality of two ormore.

Suitable isocyanate-containing components include diisocyanates havingthe generic structure: O═C═N—R—N═C═O, where R preferably is a cyclic,aromatic, or linear or branched hydrocarbon moiety containing from about1 to about 50 carbon atoms. The isocyanate also may contain one or morecyclic groups or one or more phenyl groups. When multiple cyclic oraromatic groups are present, linear and/or branched hydrocarbonscontaining from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms can be present asspacers between the cyclic or aromatic groups. In some cases, the cyclicor aromatic group(s) may be substituted at the 2-, 3-, and/or4-positions, or at the ortho-, meta-, and/orpara-positions,respectively. Substituted groups may include, but are not limited to,halogens, primary, secondary, or tertiary hydrocarbon groups, or amixture thereof.

Examples of isocyanates that can be used with the present inventioninclude, but are not limited to, substituted and isomeric mixturesincluding 2,2′-, 2,4′-, and 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI);3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate (TODI); toluene diisocyanate(TDI); polymeric MDI; carbodiimide-modified liquid 4,4′-diphenylmethanediisocyanate; para-phenylene diisocyanate (PPDI); meta-phenylenediisocyanate (MPDI); triphenyl methane-4,4′- and triphenylmethane-4,4″-triisocyanate; naphthylene-1,5-diisocyanate; 2,4′-, 4,4′-,and 2,2-biphenyl diisocyanate; polyphenylene polymethylenepolyisocyanate (PMDI) (also known as polymeric PMDI); mixtures of MDIand PMDI; mixtures of PMDI and TDI; ethylene diisocyanate;propylene-1,2-diisocyanate; trimethylene diisocyanate; butylenesdiisocyanate; bitolylene diisocyanate; tolidine diisocyanate;tetramethylene-1,2-diisocyanate; tetramethylene-1,3-diisocyanate;tetramethylene-1,4-diisocyanate; pentamethylene di isocyanate;1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI); octamethylene diisocyanate;decamethylene diisocyanate; 2,2,4-trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate;2,4,4-trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate; dodecane-1,12-diisocyanate;dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate; cyclobutane-1,3-diisocyanate;cyclohexane-1,2-diisocyanate; cyclohexane-1,3-diisocyanate;cyclohexane-1,4-diisocyanate; diethylidene diisocyanate;methylcyclohexylene diisocyanate (HTDI); 2,4-methylcyclohexanediisocyanate; 2,6-methylcyclohexane diisocyanate; 4,4′-dicyclohexyldiisocyanate; 2,4′-dicyclohexyl diisocyanate; 1,3,5-cyclohexane triisocyanate; isocyanatomethylcyclohexane isocyanate;1-isocyanato-3,3,5-trimethyl-5-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane;isocyanatoethylcyclohexane isocyanate; bis(isocyanatomethyl)-cyclohexanediisocyanate; 4,4′-bis(isocyanatomethyl)dicyclohexane;2,4′-bis(isocyanatomethyl)dicyclohexane; isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI);dimeryl diisocyanate, dodecane-1,12-diisocyanate, 1,10-decamethylenediisocyanate, cyclohexylene-1,2-diisocyanate, 1,10-decamethylenediisocyanate, 1-chlorobenzene-2,4-diisocyanate, furfurylidenediisocyanate, 2,4,4-trimethyl hexamethylene diisocyanate,2,2,4-trimethyl hexamethylene diisocyanate, dodecamethylenediisocyanate, 1,3-cyclopentane diisocyanate, 1,3-cyclohexanediisocyanate, 1,3-cyclobutane diisocyanate, 1,4-cyclohexanediisocyanate, 4,4′-methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate),4,4′-methylenebis-(phenyl isocyanate), 1-methyl-2,4-cyclohexanediisocyanate, 1-methyl-2,6-cyclohexane diisocyanate, 1,3-bis(isocyanato-methyl)cyclohexane, 1,6-diisocyanato-2,2,4,4-,tetramethyl-hexane, 1,6-diisocyanato-2,4,4-tetra-trimethylhexane,trans-cyclohexane-1,4-diisocyanate,3-isocyanato-methyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclo-hexyl isocyanate,1-isocyanato-3,3,5-trimethyl-5-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane, cyclohexylisocyanate, dicyclohexylmethane 4,4′-diisocyanate,1,4-bis(isocyanatomethyl) cyclohexane, m-phenylene diisocyanate,m-xylylene diisocyanate, m-tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate, p-phenylenediisocyanate, p,p′-biphenyl diisocyanate, 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-biphenylenediisocyanate, 3,3′-dimethoxy-4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate,3,3′-diphenyl-4,4′-biphenylene di isocyanate, 4,4′-biphenylenediisocyanate, 3,3′-dichloro-4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate,1,5-naphthalene diisocyanate, 4-chloro-1,3-phenylene diisocyanate,1,5-tetrahydronaphthalene diisocyanate, metaxylene diisocyanate,2,4-toluene diisocyanate, 2,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate,2,4-chlorophenylene diisocyanate, 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate,p,p′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate,2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, 2,2-diphenylpropane-4,4′-diisocyanate,4,4′-toluidine diisocyanate, dianidine diisocyanate, 4,4′-diphenyl etherdiisocyanate, 1,3-xylylene diisocyanate, 1,4-naphthylene diisocyanate,azobenzene-4,4′-diisocyanate, diphenyl sulfone-4,4′-diisocyanate,triphenylmethane 4,4′,4″-triisocyanate, isocyanatoethyl methacrylate,3-isopropenyl α,α-dimethylbenzyl-isocyanate, dichlorohexamethylenediisocyanate, ω,ω′-diisocyanato-1,4 -diethylbenzene, polymethylenepolyphenylene polyisocyanate, isocyanurate modified compounds, andcarbodiimide modified compounds, as well as biuret modified compounds ofthe above polyisocyanates.

These isocyanates may be used either alone or in combination. Thesecombination isocyanates include triisocyanates, such as biuret ofhexamethylene diisocyanate and triphenylmethane triisocyanates, andpolyisocyanates, such as polymeric diphenylmethanediisocyanate.triisocyanate of HDI; tri isocyanate of2,2,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexane diisocyanate (MIDI); 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethanediisocyanate (H₁₂MDI); 2,4-hexahydrotoluene diisocyanate;2,6-hexahydrotoluene diisocyanate; 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-phenylenediisocyanate; aromatic aliphatic isocyanate, such as 1,2-, 1,3-, and1,4-xylene diisocyanate; meta-tetramethylxylene diisocyanate (m-TMXDI);para-tetramethylxylene diisocyanate (p-TMXDI); trimerized isocyanurateof any polyisocyanate, such as isocyanurate of toluene diisocyanate,trimer of diphenylmethane diisocyanate, trimer of tetramethylxylenediisocyanate, isocyanurate of hexamethylene diisocyanate, and mixturesthereof, dimerized uretdione of any polyisocyanate, such as uretdione oftoluene diisocyanate, uretdione of hexamethylene diisocyanate, andmixtures thereof; modified polyisocyanate derived from the aboveisocyanates and polyisocyanates; and mixtures thereof.

Any polyol now known or hereafter developed is suitable for useaccording to the invention. Polyols suitable for use in the presentinvention include, but are not limited to, polyester polyols, polyetherpolyols, polycarbonate polyols and polydiene polyols such aspolybutadiene polyols. Suitable polyether polyols includepolytetramethylene ether glycol; poly(oxypropylene) glycol; andpolybutadiene glycol. Suitable polyester polyols include polyethyleneadipate glycol; polyethylene propylene adipate glycol; and polybutyleneadipate glycol. Suitable polylactone polyols include diethylene glycolinitiated caprolactone; 1,4-butanediol initiated caprolactone;trimethylol propane initiated caprolactone; and neopentyl glycolinitiated caprolactone. The preferred polyols are polytetramethyleneether glycol; polyethylene adipate glycol; polybutylene adipate glycol;and diethylene glycol initiated caprolactone. The most preferred polyolis polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG). Like urethane elastomersmade with other ether polyols, urethane elastomers made with PTMEGexhibit good hydrolytic stability and good tensile strength. Hydrolyticstability allows for a golf ball product that is substantiallyimpervious to the effects of moisture. Thus, a golf ball made with apolyurethane system that has an ether glycol for the polyol componentwill have a longer shelf life, i.e., retains physical properties underprolonged humid conditions.

Any polyamine available to one of ordinary skill in the polyurethane artis suitable for use according to the invention. Polyamines suitable foruse in the compositions of the present invention include, but are notlimited to amine-terminated compounds typically are selected fromamine-terminated hydrocarbons, amine-terminated polyethers,amine-terminated polyesters, amine-terminated polycaprolactones,amine-terminated polycarbonates, amine-terminated polyamides, andmixtures thereof. The amine-terminated compound may be a polyether amineselected from polytetramethylene ether diamines, polyoxypropylenediamines, polyethylene oxide capped oxypropylene) ether diamines,triethyleneglycoldiamines, propylene oxide-based triamines,trimethylolpropane-based triamines, glycerin-based triamines, andmixtures thereof.

The diisocyanate and polyol or polyamine components may be combined toform a prepolymer prior to reaction with a chain extender or curingagent. Any such prepolymer combination is suitable for use in thepresent invention.

One preferred prepolymer is a toluene diisocyanate prepolymer withpolypropylene glycol. Such polypropylene glycol terminated toluenediisocyanate prepolymers are available from Uniroyal Chemical Company ofMiddlebury, Conn., under the trade name ADIPRENE® LFG963A and LFG640D.Most preferred prepolymers are the polytetramethylene ether glycolterminated toluene diisocyanate prepolymers including those availablefrom Uniroyal Chemical Company of Middlebury, Conn., under the tradename ADIPRENE® LF930A, LF950A, LF601D, and LF751D.

In one embodiment, the number of free NCO groups in the urethane or ureaprepolymer may be less than about 14 percent. Preferably the urethane orurea prepolymer has from about 3 percent to about 11 percent, morepreferably from about 4 to about 9.5 percent, and even more preferablyfrom about 3 percent to about 9 percent, free NCO on an equivalentweight basis.

Polyol chain extenders or curing agents may be primary, secondary, ortertiary polyols. Non-limiting examples of monomers of these polyolsinclude: trimethylolpropane (TMP), ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol,1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanedial, 1,6-hexanediol, propylene glycol,dipropylene glycol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol,1,2-pentanedial, 2,3-pentanediol, 2,5-hexanediol, 2,4-hexanediol,2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, cyclohexanediol, and2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol.

Diamines and other suitable polyamines may be added to the compositionsof the present invention to function as chain extenders or curingagents. These include primary, secondary and tertiary amines having twoor more amines as functional groups. Exemplary diamines includealiphatic diamines, such as tetramethylenediamine,pentamethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine; alicyclic diamines, such as3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-diamino-dicyclohexyl methane; or aromatic diamines,such as diethyl-2,4-toluenediamine,4,4″-methylenebis-(3-chloro,2,6-diethyl)-aniline (available from AirProducts and Chemicals Inc., of Allentown, Pa., under the trade nameLONZACURE®), 3,3′-dichlorobenzidene; 3,3′-dichloro-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (MOCA); N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine,3,5-dimethylthio-2,4-toluenediamine;3,5-dimethylthio-2,6-toluenediamine; N,N′-dialkyldiamino diphenylmethane; trimethylene-glycol-di-p-aminobenzoate;polytetramethyleneoxide-di-p-aminobenzoate, 4,4′-methylenebis-2-chloroaniline, 2,2′,3,3′-tetrachloro-4,4′-diamino-phenyl methane,p,p′-methylenedianiline, p-phenylenediamine or 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl; and2,4,6-tris(dimethylaminomethyl) phenol.

Depending on their chemical structure, curing agents may be slow- orfast-reacting polyamines or polyols. As described in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,793,864, 6,719,646 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0201133 A1,(the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated herein byreference), slow-reacting polyamines are diamines having amine groupsthat are sterically and/or electronically hindered by electronwithdrawing groups or bulky groups situated proximate to the aminereaction sites. The spacing of the amine reaction sites will also affectthe reactivity speed of the polyamines.

Suitable curatives for use in the present invention are selected fromthe slow-reacting polyamine group include, but are not limited to,3,5-dimethylthio-2,4-toluenediamine;3,5-dimethylthio-2,6-toluenediamine; N, N′-dialkyldiamino diphenylmethane; trimethylene-glycol-di-p-aminobenzoate;polytetramethyleneoxide-di-p-aminobenzoate, and mixtures thereof. Ofthese, 3,5-dimethylthio-2,4-toluenediamine and3,5-dimethylthio-2,6-toluenediamine are isomers and are sold under thetrade name ETHACURE® 300 by Ethyl Corporation. Trimethyleneglycol-di-p-aminobenzoate is sold under the trade name POLACURE® 740Mand polytetramethyleneoxide-di-p-aminobenzoates are sold under the tradename POLAMINESO by Polaroid Corporation. N,N′-dialkyldiamino diphenylmethane is sold under the trade name UNILINK® by UOP.

Also included as a curing agent for use in the polyurethane or polyureacompositions used in the present invention are the family ofdicyandiamides as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,879,968 filed by Kim etal., the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In addition to discrete thermoplastic or thermoset materials, it also ispossible to modify thermoplastic polyurethane or polyurea composition byintroducing materials in the composition that undergo subsequent curingafter molding the thermoplastic to provide properties similar to thoseof a thermoset. For example, Kim in U.S. Pat. No. 6,924,337, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, discloses athermoplastic urethane or urea composition optionally comprising chainextenders and further comprising a peroxide or peroxide mixture, whichcan then undergo post curing to result in a thermoset.

Also, Kim et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,924, the entire contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a thermoplasticurethane or urea composition, optionally also comprising chainextenders, that are prepared from a diisocyanate and a modified orblocked diisocyanate which unblocks and induces further cross linkingpost extrusion. The modified isocyanate preferably is selected from thegroup consisting of: isophorone diisocyanate

(IPDI)-based uretdione-type crosslinker; a combination of a uretdioneadduct of IPDI and a partially e-caprolactam-modified IPDI; acombination of isocyanate adducts modified by e-caprolactam and acarboxylic acid functional group; a caprolactam-modified Desmodurdiisocyanate; a Desmodur diisocyanate having a 3,5-dimethyl pyrazolemodified isocyanate; or mixtures of these.

Finally, Kim et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,037,985 B2, the entire contentsof which are hereby incorporated by reference, discloses thermoplasticurethane or urea compositions further comprising a reaction product of anitroso compound and a diisocyanate or a polyisocyanate. The nitrosoreaction product has a characteristic temperature at which it decomposesto regenerate the nitroso compound and diisocyanate or polyisocyanate.Thus, by judicious choice of the post-processing temperature, furthercrosslinking can be induced in the originally thermoplastic compositionto provide thermoset-like properties.

The LCP's and any other polymer component of the golf balls of thepresent invention whether used in blends with the LCP's or used as aseparate component of the core, cover layer or intermediate layer of thecurrent golf balls, may be further modified by the addition of an impactmodifier, which can include copolymers or terpolymers having a glycidylgroup, hydroxyl group, maleic anhydride group or carboxylic group,collectively referred to as functionalized polymers. These copolymersand terpolymers may comprise an a-olefin. Examples of suitable α-olefinsinclude ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-butene,1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-petene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 1-octene, 1-decene-,1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-octadecene, 1-eicocene,1-dococene, 1-tetracocene, 1-hexacocene, 1-octacocene, and1-triacontene. One or more of these a-olefins may be used.

Examples of suitable glycidyl groups in copolymers or terpolymers in thepolymeric modifier include esters and ethers of aliphatic glycidyl, suchas allylglycidylether, vinylglycidylether, glycidyl maleate anditaconatem glycidyl acrylate and methacrylate, and also alicyclicglycidyl esters and ethers, such as 2-cyclohexene-1-glycidylether,cyclohexene-4,5 diglyxidylcarboxylate, cyclohexene-4-glycidylcarobxylate, 5-norboenene-2-methyl-2-glycidyl carboxylate, andendocis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-diglycidyl dicarboxylate. Thesepolymers having a glycidyl group may comprise other monomers, such asesters of unsaturated carboxylic acid, for example, alkyl(meth)acrylatesor vinyl esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids. Polymers having aglycidyl group can be obtained by copolymerization or graftpolymerization with homopolymers or copolymers.

Examples of suitable terpolymers having a glycidyl group includeLOTADER® AX8900 and AX8920, marketed by Atofina Chemicals, ELVALOY®marketed by E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co., and REXPEARL marketed byNippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. Additional examples of copolymerscomprising epoxy monomers and which are suitable for use within thescope of the present invention include styrene-butadiene-styrene blockcopolymers in which the polybutadiene block contains epoxy group, andstyrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers in which the polyisopreneblock contains epoxy. Commercially available examples of these epoxyfunctional copolymers include ESBS A1005, ESBS A1010, ESBS A1020, ESBSAT018, and ESBS AT019, marketed by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.

Examples of polymers or terpolymers incorporating a maleic anhydridegroup suitable for use within the scope of the present invention includemaleic anhydride-modified ethylene-propylene copolymers, maleicanhydride-modified ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, maleicanhydride-modified polyethylenes, maleic anhydride-modifiedpolypropylenes, ethylene-ethylacrylate-maleic anhydride terpolymers, andmaleic anhydride-indene-styrene-cumarone polymers. Examples ofcommercially available copolymers incorporating maleic anhydrideinclude: BONDINE, marketed by Sumitomo Chemical Co., such as BOND1NEAX8390, an ethylene-ethyl acrylate-maleic anhydride terpolymer having acombined ethylene acrylate and maleic anhydride content of 32% byweight, and BONDINE TX TX8030, an ethylene-ethyl acrylate-maleicanhydride terpolymer having a combined ethylene acrylate and maleicanhydride content of 15% by weight and a maleic anhydride content of 1%to 4% by weight; maleic anhydride-containing LOTADER® 3200, 3210, 6200,8200, 3300, 3400, 3410, 7500, 5500, 4720, and 4700, marketed by AtofinaChemicals; EXXELOR® VA 1803, a maleic anyhydride-modifiedethylene-propylene copolymer having a maleic anyhydride content of 0.7%by weight, marketed by Exxon Chemical Co.; and KRATON® FG 1901X, amaleic anhydride functionalized triblock copolymer having polystyreneendblocks and poly(ethylene/butylene) midblocks, marketed by ShellChemical. Preferably the functional polymer component is a maleicanhydride grafted polymers preferably maleic anhydride graftedpolyolefins (for example, Exxellor VA1803).

The various polymer compositions used to prepare the golf balls of thepresent invention may also be further modified by addition of amonomeric aliphatic and/or aromatic amide as described in copending USPublication No. 2007-0100085 Al filed on Nov. 1, 2006 in the name ofHyun Kim et al., the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

Another particularly well-suited additive for use in the various polymercompositions used to prepare the golf balls of the present inventionincludes compounds having the general formula:

(R₂N)_(m)—R′—(X(O)_(n)OR_(y))_(m),

where R is hydrogen, or a C₁-C₂₀ aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromaticsystems; R′ is a bridging group comprising one or more C₁-C₂₀ straightchain or branched aliphatic or alicyclic groups, or substituted straightchain or branched aliphatic or alicyclic groups, or aromatic group, oran oligomer of up to 12 repeating units including, but not limited to,polypeptides derived from an amino acid sequence of up to 12 aminoacids; and X is C or S with the proviso that when X═C, n=1 and y=1 andwhen X═S, n=2 and y=1. Also, m=1-3. These materials are more fullydescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,767,759 filed on Jul. 14, 2005, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Preferably the material is selected from the group consisting of4,4′-methylene-bis-(cyclohexylamine)carbamate (commercially availablefrom R.T. Vanderbilt Co., Norwalk Conn. under the tradename DIAK® 4),11-aminoundecanoicacid, 12-aminododecanoic acid, epsilon-caprolactam;omega-caprolactam, and any and all combinations thereof.

Golf balls within the scope of the present invention also can include,in suitable amounts, one or more additional ingredients generallyemployed in golf ball compositions. Agents provided to achieve specificfunctions, such as additives and stabilizers, can be present.

Exemplary suitable ingredients include antioxidants, colorants,dispersants, mold releasing agents, processing aids, plasticizers,pigments, U.V. absorbers, optical brighteners, or any other additivesgenerally employed in plastics formulation or the preparation of golfballs and any and all combinations thereof. Although not required, UVstabilizers, or photo stabilizers such as substituted hydroxphenylbenzotriazoles may be utilized in the present invention to enhance theUV stability of the final compositions. An example of a commerciallyavailable UV stabilizer is the stabilizer sold by Ciba Geigy Corporationunder the tradename TINUVIN®.

The various polymeric compositions used to prepare the golf balls of thepresent invention also can incorporate one or more fillers. Such fillersare typically in a finely divided form, for example, in a size generallyless than about 20 mesh, preferably less than about 100 mesh U.S.standard size, except for fibers and flock, which are generallyelongated. Filler particle size will depend upon desired effect, cost,ease of addition, and dusting considerations. The appropriate amounts offiller required will vary depending on the application but typically canbe readily determined without undue experimentation.

The filler preferably is selected from the group consisting ofprecipitated hydrated silica, limestone, clay, talc, asbestos, barytes,glass fibers, aramid fibers, mica, calcium metasilicate, barium sulfate,zinc sulfide, lithopone, silicates, silicon carbide, diatomaceous earth,carbonates such as calcium or magnesium or barium carbonate, sulfatessuch as calcium or magnesium or barium sulfate, metals, includingtungsten, steel, copper, cobalt or iron, metal alloys, tungsten carbide,metal oxides, metal stearates, and other particulate carbonaceousmaterials, and any and all combinations thereof. Preferred examples offillers include metal oxides, such as zinc oxide and magnesium oxide. Inanother preferred aspect the filler comprises a continuous ornon-continuous fiber. In another preferred aspect the filler comprisesone or more so called nanofillers, as described in U.S. Pat. No.6,794,447 and copending U.S. Publication No. US2004-0092336 filed onSep. 24, 2003 and U.S. Pat. No.7,332,533 filed on Aug. 25, 2004, theentire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Inorganic nanofiller material generally is made of clay, such ashydrotalcite, phyllosilicate, saponite, hectorite, beidellite,stevensite, vermiculite, halloysite, mica, montmorillonite,micafluoride, or octosilicate. To facilitate incorporation of thenanofiller material into a polymer material, either in preparingnanocomposite materials or in preparing polymer-based golf ballcompositions, the clay particles generally are coated or treated by asuitable compatibilizing agent. The compatibilizing agent allows forsuperior linkage between the inorganic and organic material, and it alsocan account for the hydrophilic nature of the inorganic nanofillermaterial and the possibly hydrophobic nature of the polymer.Compatibilizing agents may exhibit a variety of different structuresdepending upon the nature of both the inorganic nanofiller material andthe target matrix polymer. Non-limiting examples include hydroxy-,thiol-, amino-, epoxy-, carboxylic acid-, ester-, amide-, andsiloxy-group containing compounds, oligomers or polymers. The nanofillermaterials can be incorporated into the polymer either by dispersion intothe particular monomer or oligomer prior to polymerization, or by meltcompounding of the particles into the matrix polymer. Examples ofcommercial nanofillers are various Cloisite grades including 10A, 15A,20A, 25A, 30B, and NA+ of Southern Clay Products (Gonzales, Tex.) andthe Nanomer grades including I .24TL and C.30EVA of Nanocor, Inc.(Arlington Heights, Ill.).

Nanofillers when added into a matrix polymer can be mixed in three ways.In one type of mixing there is dispersion of the aggregate structureswithin the matrix polymer, but on mixing no interaction of the matrixpolymer with the aggregate platelet structure occurs, and thus thestacked platelet structure is essentially maintained. As used herein,this type of mixing is defined as “undispersed”.

However, if the nanofiller material is selected correctly, the matrixpolymer chains can penetrate into the aggregates and separate theplatelets, and thus when viewed by transmission electron microscopy orx-ray diffraction, the aggregates of platelets are expanded. At thispoint the nanofiller is said to be substantially evenly dispersed withinand reacted into the structure of the matrix polymer. This level ofexpansion can occur to differing degrees. If small amounts of the matrixpolymer are layered between the individual platelets then, as usedherein, this type of mixing is known as “intercalation”.

In some circumstances, further penetration of the matrix polymer chainsinto the aggregate structure separates the platelets, and leads to acomplete disruption of the platelet's stacked structure in theaggregate. Thus, when viewed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM),the individual platelets are thoroughly mixed throughout the matrixpolymer. As used herein, this type of mixing is known as “exfoliated.”An exfoliated nanofiller has the platelets fully dispersed throughoutthe polymer matrix; the platelets may be dispersed unevenly butpreferably are dispersed evenly.

While not wishing to be limited to any theory, one possible explanationof the differing degrees of dispersion of such nanofillers within thematrix polymer structure is the effect of the compatibilizer surfacecoating on the interaction between the nanofiller platelet structure andthe matrix polymer. By careful selection of the nanofiller it ispossible to vary the penetration of the matrix polymer into the plateletstructure of the nanofiller on mixing. Thus, the degree of interactionand intrusion of the polymer matrix into the nanofiller controls theseparation and dispersion of the individual platelets of the nanofillerwithin the polymer matrix. This interaction of the polymer matrix andthe platelet structure of the nanofiller is defined herein as thenanofiller “reacting into the structure of the polymer” and thesubsequent dispersion of the platelets within the polymer matrix isdefined herein as the nanofiller “being substantially evenly dispersed”within the structure of the polymer matrix.

If no compatibilizer is present on the surface of a filler such as aclay, or if the coating of the clay is attempted after its addition tothe polymer matrix, then the penetration of the matrix polymer into thenanofiller is much less efficient, very little separation and nodispersion of the individual clay platelets occurs within the matrixpolymer.

Physical properties of the polymer will change with the addition ofnanofiller. The physical properties of the polymer are expected toimprove even more as the nanofiller is dispersed into the polymer matrixto form a nanocomposite.

Materials incorporating nanofiller materials can provide these propertyimprovements at much lower densities than those incorporatingconventional fillers. For example, a nylon-6 nanocomposite materialmanufactured by RTP Corporation of Wichita, Kansas, uses a 3% to 5% clayloading and has a tensile strength of 11,800 psi and a specific gravityof 1.14, while a conventional 30% mineral-filled material has a tensilestrength of 8,000 psi and a specific gravity of 1.36. Usingnanocomposite materials with lower inorganic materials loadings thanconventional fillers provides the same properties, and this allowsproducts comprising nanocomposite fillers to be lighter than those withconventional fillers, while maintaining those same properties.

Nanocomposite materials are materials incorporating up to about 20%, orfrom about 0.1% to about 20%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 15%,and most preferably from about 0.1% to about 10% of nanofiller reactedinto and substantially dispersed through intercalation or exfoliationinto the structure of an organic material, such as a polymer, to providestrength, temperature resistance, and other property improvements to theresulting composite. Descriptions of particular nanocomposite materialsand their manufacture can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,553 toEllsworth, U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,776 to Maxfield et al., and U.S. Pat. No.4,894,411 to Okada et al. Examples of nanocomposite materials currentlymarketed include M1030D, manufactured by Unitika Limited, of Osaka,Japan, and 1015C2, manufactured by UBE America of New York, N.Y.

When nanocomposites are blended with other polymer systems, thenanocomposite may be considered a type of nanofiller concentrate.However, a nanofiller concentrate may be more generally a polymer intowhich nanofiller is mixed; a nanofiller concentrate does not requirethat the nanofiller has reacted and/or dispersed evenly into the carrierpolymer.

The nanofiller material is added in an amount up to about 20 wt %, fromabout 0.1% to about 20%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 15%, andmost preferably from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight (based on thefinal weight of the polymer matrix material) of nanofiller reacted intoand substantially dispersed through intercalation or exfoliation intothe structure of the polymer matrix.

In an especially preferred aspect, a nanofiller additive component inthe golf ball of the present invention is surface modified with acompatibilizing agent comprising the earlier described compounds havingthe general formula:

(R₂N)_(m)—R′—(X(O)_(n)OR_(y))_(m),

Preferably the material is selected from the group consisting of4,4′-methylene-bis-(cyclohexylamine)carbamate (commercially availablefrom R.T. Vanderbilt Co., Norwalk Conn. under the tradename Diak® 4),11-aminoundecanoicacid, 12-aminododecanoic acid, epsilon-caprolactam;omega-caprolactam, and any and all combinations thereof.

A most preferred aspect would be a filler comprising a nanofiller claymaterial surface modified with an amino acid including12-aminododecanoic acid. Such fillers are available from Nanonocor Co.under the tradename NANOMER® 1.24TL.

The filler can be blended in variable effective amounts, such as amountsof greater than 0 to at least about 80 parts, and more typically fromabout 10 parts to about 80 parts, by weight per 100 parts by weight ofthe base rubber. If desired, the rubber composition can additionallycontain effective amounts of a plasticizer, an antioxidant, and anyother additives generally used to make golf balls.

The cores of the golf balls of the present invention may include thetraditional rubber components used in golf ball applications including,both natural and synthetic rubbers, such as cis-1,4-polybutadiene,trans-1,4-polybutadiene, 1,2-polybutadiene, cis-polyisoprene,trans-polyisoprene, polychloroprene, polybutylene, styrene-butadienerubber, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer and partially andfully hydrogenated equivalents, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymerand partially and fully hydrogenated equivalents, nitrile rubber,silicone rubber, and polyurethane, as well as mixtures of these.Polybutadiene rubbers, especially 1,4-polybutadiene rubbers containingat least 40 mol %, and more preferably 80 to 100 mol % of cis-1,4 bonds,are preferred because of their high rebound resilience, moldability, andhigh strength after vulcanization. The polybutadiene component may besynthesized by using rare earth-based catalysts, nickel-based catalysts,or cobalt-based catalysts, conventionally used in this field.Polybutadiene obtained by using lanthanum rare earth-based catalystsusually employ a combination of a lanthanum rare earth (atomic number of57 to 71)-compound, but particularly preferred is a neodymium compound.

The 1,4-polybutadiene rubbers have a molecular weight distribution(Mw/Mn) of from about 1.2 to about 4.0, preferably from about 1.7 toabout 3.7, even more preferably from about 2.0 to about 3.5, mostpreferably from about 2.2 to about 3.2. The polybutadiene rubbers have aMooney viscosity (ML₁₊₄(100° C.)) of from about 20 to about 80,preferably from about 30 to about 70, even more preferably from about 30to about 60, most preferably from about 35 to about 50. The term “Mooneyviscosity” used herein refers in each case to an industrial index ofviscosity as measured with a Mooney viscometer, which is a type ofrotary plastometer (see JIS K6300). This value is represented by thesymbol ML₁₊₄(100° C.), wherein “M” stands for Mooney viscosity, “L”stands for large rotor (L-type), “1+4” stands for a pre-heating time of1 minute and a rotor rotation time of 4 minutes, and “100° C.” indicatesthat measurement was carried out at a temperature of 100° C. As readilyappreciated by one skilled in the art, blends of polybutadiene rubbersmay also be utilized in the golf balls of the present invention, suchblends may be prepared with any mixture of rare earth-based catalysts,nickel-based catalysts, or cobalt-based catalysts derived materials, andfrom materials having different molecular weights, molecular weightdistributions and Mooney viscosity.

The cores of the golf balls of the present invention may also include1,2-polybutadienes having differing tacticity, all of which are suitableas unsaturated polymers for use in the presently disclosed compositions,are atactic 1,2-polybutadiene, isotactic 1,2-polybutadiene, andsyndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene. Syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene havingcrystallinity suitable for use as an unsaturated polymer in thepresently disclosed compositions are polymerized from a 1,2-addition ofbutadiene. The presently disclosed golf balls may include syndiotactic1,2-polybutadiene having crystallinity and greater than about 70% of1,2-bonds, more preferably greater than about 80% of 1,2-bonds, and mostpreferably greater than about 90% of 1,2-bonds. Also, the1,2-polybutadiene may have a mean molecular weight between about 10,000and about 350,000, more preferably between about 50,000 and about300,000, more preferably between about 80,000 and about 200,000, andmost preferably between about 10,000 and about 150,000. Examples ofsuitable syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadienes having crystallinity suitablefor use in golf balls are sold under the trade names RB810, RB820, andRB830 by JSR Corporation of Tokyo, Japan.

The cores of the golf balls of the present invention may also includethe polyalkenamer rubbers as previously described herein and disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 7,528,196 in the name of Hyun Kim et al., the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The cores of the golf balls of the present invention may also includethe various fillers as previously described herein. Especially preferredfillers include the one or more so called nanofillers, as described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,794,447 and copending U.S. Publication No.US2004-0092336 filed on Sep. 24, 2003 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,332,533 filedon Aug. 25, 2004, the entire contents of each of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

When synthetic rubbers such as the aforementioned polybutadienes orpolyalkenamers and their blends are used in the golf balls of thepresent invention they may contain further materials typically oftenused in rubber formulations including crosslinking agents,co-crosslinking agents, peptizers and accelerators.

Suitable cross-linking agents for use in the golf balls of the presentinvention include peroxides, sulfur compounds, or other known chemicalcross-linking agents, as well as mixtures of these. Non-limitingexamples of suitable cross-linking agents include primary, secondary, ortertiary aliphatic or aromatic organic peroxides. Peroxides containingmore than one peroxy group can be used, such as2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(tert-butylperoxy)hexane and 1,4-di-(2-tert-butylperoxyisopropyl)benzene. Both symmetrical and asymmetrical peroxides canbe used, for example, tert-butyl perbenzoate and tert-butyl cumylperoxide. Peroxides incorporating carboxyl groups also are suitable. Thedecomposition of peroxides used as cross-linking agents in the presentinvention can be brought about by applying thermal energy, shear,irradiation, reaction with other chemicals, or any combination of these.Both homolytically and heterolytically decomposed peroxide can be usedin the present invention. Non-limiting examples of suitable peroxidesinclude: diacetyl peroxide; di-tert-butyl peroxide; dibenzoyl peroxide;dicumyl peroxide; 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(benzoylperoxy)hexane;1,4-bis-(t-butylperoxyisopropyl)benzene; t-butylperoxybenzoate;2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-(t-butylperoxy)hexyne-3, such as Trigonox 145-45B,marketed by Akrochem Corp. of Akron, Ohio; 1,1-bis(t-butylperoxy)-3,3,5tri-methylcyclohexane, such as Varox 231-XL, marketed by R.T. VanderbiltCo., Inc. of Norwalk, Connecticut; and di-(2,4-dichlorobenzoyl)peroxide.The cross-linking agents can be blended in total amounts of about 0.05part to about 5 parts, more preferably about 0.2 part to about 3 parts,and most preferably about 0.2 part to about 2 parts, by weight of thecross-linking agents per 100 parts by weight of the unsaturated polymer.

Each cross-linking agent has a characteristic decomposition temperatureat which 50% of the cross-linking agent has decomposed when subjected tothat temperature for a specified time period (t_(1/2)). For example,1,1-bis-(t-butylperoxy)-3,3,5-tri-methylcyclohexane at t_(1/2)=0.1 hrhas a decomposition temperature of 138° C. and2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-(t-butylperoxy)hexyne-3 at t_(1/2)=0.1 hr has adecomposition temperature of 182° C. Two or more cross-linking agentshaving different characteristic decomposition temperatures at the same t₂ may be blended in the composition. For example, where at least onecross-linking agent has a first characteristic decomposition temperatureless than 150° C., and at least one cross-linking agent has a secondcharacteristic decomposition temperature greater than 150° C., thecomposition weight ratio of the at least one cross-linking agent havingthe first characteristic decomposition temperature to the at least onecross-linking agent having the second characteristic decompositiontemperature can range from 5:95 to 95:5, or more preferably from 10:90to 50:50.

Besides the use of chemical cross-linking agents, exposure of thecomposition to radiation also can serve as a cross-linking agent.Radiation can be applied to the unsaturated polymer mixture by any knownmethod, including using microwave or gamma radiation, or an electronbeam device. Additives may also be used to improve radiation curing ofthe diene polymer.

The rubber and cross-linking agent may be blended with aco-cross-linking agent, which may be a metal salt of an unsaturatedcarboxylic acid. Examples of these include zinc and magnesium salts ofunsaturated fatty acids having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, such as acrylicacid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, and fumaric acid, palmitic acidwith the zinc salts of acrylic and methacrylic acid being mostpreferred. The unsaturated carboxylic acid metal salt can be blended ina rubber either as a preformed metal salt, or by introducing anα,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid and a metal oxide or hydroxide into therubber composition, and allowing them to react in the rubber compositionto form a metal salt. The unsaturated carboxylic acid metal salt can beblended in any desired amount, but preferably in amounts of about 10parts to about 60 parts by weight of the unsaturated carboxylic acid per100 parts by weight of the synthetic rubber.

The core compositions used in the present invention may also incorporateone or more of the so-called “peptizers”. The peptizer preferablycomprises an organic sulfur compound and/or its metal or non-metal salt.Examples of such organic sulfur compounds include thiophenols, such aspentachlorothiophenol, 4-butyl-o-thiocresol, 4 t-butyl-p-thiocresol, and2-benzamidothiophenol; thiocarboxylic acids, such as thiobenzoic acid;4,4′ dithio dimorpholine; and, sulfides, such as dixylyl disulfide,dibenzoyl disulfide; dibenzothiazyl disulfide; di(pentachlorophenyl)disulfide; dibenzamido diphenyldisulfide (DBDD), and alkylated phenolsulfides, such as VULTAC marketed by Atofina Chemicals, Inc. ofPhiladelphia, Pa. Preferred organic sulfur compounds includepentachlorothiophenol, and dibenzamido diphenyldisulfide.

Examples of the metal salt of an organic sulfur compound include sodium,potassium, lithium, magnesium calcium, barium, and cesium and zinc saltsof the above-mentioned thiophenols and thiocarboxylic acids, with thezinc salt of pentachlorothiophenol being most preferred.

Examples of the non-metal salt of an organic sulfur compound includeammonium salts of the above-mentioned thiophenols and thiocarboxylicacids wherein the ammonium cation has the general formula [NR¹R²R³R⁴]⁺where R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ are selected from the group consisting ofhydrogen, a C₁-C₂₀ aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic moiety, and anyand all combinations thereof, with the most preferred being the NH₄⁺-salt of pentachlorothiophenol.

Additional peptizers include aromatic or conjugated peptizers comprisingone or more heteroatoms, such as nitrogen, oxygen and/or sulfur. Moretypically, such peptizers are heteroaryl or heterocyclic compoundshaving at least one heteroatom, and potentially plural heteroatoms,where the plural heteroatoms may be the same or different. Suchpeptizers include peptizers such as an indole peptizer, a quinolinepeptizer, an isoquinoline peptizer, a pyridine peptizer, purinepeptizer, a pyrimidine peptizer, a diazine peptizer, a pyrazinepeptizer, a triazine peptizer, a carbazole peptizer, or combinations ofsuch peptizers.

Suitable peptizers also may include one or more additional functionalgroups, such as halogens, particularly chlorine; a sulfur-containingmoiety exemplified by thiols, where the functional group is sulfhydryl(—SH), thioethers, where the functional group is —SR, disulfides,(R₁S—SR₂), etc.; and combinations of functional groups. Such peptizersare more fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,030,411 in the name of HyunKim et al, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated byreference. A most preferred example is2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-pyridinethiol (TCPT).

The peptizer, if employed in the golf balls of the present invention, ispresent in an amount up to about 10, from about 0.01 to about 10,preferably of from about 0.10 to about 7, more preferably of from about0.15 to about 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the syntheticrubber component.

The core compositions can also comprise one or more accelerators of oneor more classes. Accelerators are added to an unsaturated polymer toincrease the vulcanization rate and/or decrease the vulcanizationtemperature. Accelerators can be of any class known for rubberprocessing including mercapto-, sulfenamide-, thiuram, dithiocarbamate,dithiocarbamyl-sulfenamide, xanthate, guanidine, amine, thiourea, anddithiophosphate accelerators. Specific commercial accelerators include2-mercaptobenzothiazole and its metal or non-metal salts, such asVulkacit Mercapto C, Mercapto MGC, Mercapto ZM-5, and ZM marketed byBayer AG of Leverkusen, Germany, Nocceler M, Nocceler MZ, and NoccelerM-60 marketed by Ouchisinko Chemical Industrial Company, Ltd. of Tokyo,Japan, and MBT and ZMBT marketed by Akrochem Corporation of Akron, Ohio.A more complete list of commercially available accelerators is given inThe Vanderbilt Rubber Handbook: 13^(th) Edition (1990, R.T. VanderbiltCo.), pp. 296-330, in Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology,Vol. 12 (1970, John Wiley & Sons), pp. 258-259, and in Rubber TechnologyHandbook (1980, Hanser/Gardner Publications), pp. 234-236. Preferredaccelerators include 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) and its salts. Thesynthetic rubber composition can further incorporate from about 0.1 partto about 10 parts by weight of the accelerator per 100 parts by weightof the rubber. More preferably, the ball composition can furtherincorporate from about 0.2 part to about 5 parts, and most preferablyfrom about 0.5 part to about 1.5 parts, by weight of the accelerator per100 parts by weight of the rubber.

Typically the golf ball core is made by mixing together the unsaturatedpolymer, cross-linking agents, and other additives with or withoutmelting them. Dry blending equipment, such as a tumbler mixer, Vblender, ribbon blender, or two-roll mill, can be used to mix thecompositions. The golf ball core compositions can also be mixed using amill, internal mixer such as a Banbury or Farrel continuous mixer,extruder or combinations of these, with or without application ofthermal energy to produce melting. The various core components can bemixed together with the cross-linking agents, or each additive can beadded in an appropriate sequence to the milled unsaturated polymer. Inanother method of manufacture the cross-linking agents and othercomponents can be added to the unsaturated polymer as part of aconcentrate using dry blending, roll milling, or melt mixing. Ifradiation is a cross-linking agent, then the mixture comprising theunsaturated polymer and other additives can be irradiated followingmixing, during forming into a part such as the core of a ball, or afterforming.

The resulting mixture can be subjected to, for example, a compression orinjection molding process, to obtain solid spheres for the core. Thepolymer mixture is subjected to a molding cycle in which heat andpressure are applied while the mixture is confined within a mold. Thecavity shape depends on the portion of the golf ball being formed. Thecompression and heat liberates free radicals by decomposing one or moreperoxides, which initiate cross-linking. The temperature and duration ofthe molding cycle are selected based upon the type of peroxide andpeptizer selected. The molding cycle may have a single step of moldingthe mixture at a single temperature for fixed time duration.

For example, a preferred mode of preparation for the cores used in thepresent invention is to first mix the core ingredients on a two-rollmill, to form slugs of approximately 30-40 g, and then compression-moldin a single step at a temperature between 150 to 180° C., for a timeduration between 5 and 12 minutes.

The various core components may also be combined to form a golf ball byan injection molding process, which is also well known to one ofordinary skill in the art. The curing time depends on the variousmaterials selected, and those of ordinary skill in the art will bereadily able to adjust the curing time upward or downward based on theparticular materials used and the discussion herein.

The various formulations for the intermediate layer and/or outer coverlayer may be produced by any generally known method, such as dryblending, melt-mixing, or combination of those, to achieve a gooddispersive mixing, distributive mixing, or both. Examples of melt-mixingare roll-mill; internal mixer, such as injection molding, single-screwextruder, twin-screw extruder; or any combination of those The feed tothe injection mold may be blended manually or mechanically prior to theaddition to the injection molder feed hopper. Finished golf balls may beprepared by initially positioning the solid, preformed core in aninjection-molding cavity, followed by uniform injection of theintermediate layer and/or cover layer composition sequentially over thecore. The cover formulations can be injection molded around the cores toproduce golf balls of the required diameter.

Alternatively, the intermediate layers and/or outer cover layer may alsobe formed around the core by first forming half shells by injectionmolding followed by compression molding the half shells about the coreto form the final ball.

The intermediate layers and/or outer cover layer may also be formedaround the cores using compression molding. Cover materials forcompression molding may also be extruded or blended resins or castableresins such as thermoset polyurethane or thermoset polyurea.

The LCP blend compositions used in the golf balls of the presentinvention may comprise from about 2 to about 60, preferably from about 5to about 55 and more preferably from about 8 to about 50 and mostpreferably from about 10 to about 45 wt. % of the LCP and from about 40to about 98, preferably from about 45 to about 95 and more preferablyfrom about 50 to about 92 and most preferably from about 55 to about 90wt % of one or more additional polymer components (all wt % based on thetotal weight of LCP and additional polymer component(s)).

The LCP composition may be used in the core, intermediate layer(s),and/or cover layer of the golf ball. In certain embodiments, the LCPcomposition is the majority ingredient of the material used to form atleast one structural component (e.g., the core, intermediate layer(s) orcover layer) of the golf ball. As used herein “majority ingredient”means that the LCP composition is present in an amount of at least about50 wt %, particularly at least 60 wt %, and more particularly at least80 wt %, based on the total weight of all the ingredients in the finalmaterial used to form at least one structural component.

The LCP may be used in solid form in the form of a powder, or pellet,and the type of LCP is selected based on the properties of the polymercomponent(s) to which it is to be added.

The additional polymer blend component may be a block copolymer, anacidic polymer, a unimodal ionomer, a bimodal ionomer, a modifiedunimodal ionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamer, apolyamide, a thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethane or thermoplastic orthermoset polyurea, or a multicomponent blend composition (“MCBC”), theMCBC comprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B) one or more acidicpolymers; and (C) one or more basic metal salts present in an amount toneutralize at greater than or equal to about 30 percent of the acidgroups of Component (B), and any and all combinations thereof.

The LCP-containing blend has a Melt Flow Index (MFI) hardness of fromabout 1 to about 80, preferably of from about 4 to about 60, morepreferably of from about 8 to about 40 and most preferably of from about10 to about 30 g/10 min.

The LCP-containing blend has a material hardness of from about 20 toabout 90, preferably of from about 25 to about 80 more preferably offrom about 30 to about 75 and most preferably of from about 35 to about70 Shore D.

The LCP-containing blend has a flex modulus of from about 1 to about120, preferably of from about 2 to about 100, more preferably of fromabout 3 to about 80 and most preferably of from about 4 to about 70kpsi.

In one preferred aspect, the golf ball is a two-piece ball with the LCPblend composition used in the outer cover layer.

In one preferred aspect, the golf ball is a multi-piece ball wherein theouter cover comprises the LCP blend compositions described herein.

In one preferred aspect, the golf ball is a multi-piece ball having atleast one intermediate layers which comprises the LCP blend compositionsdescribed herein.

In another aspect the golf ball is a three-piece ball with the LCP blendcomposition used in the intermediate or mantle layer and the outer coverlayer comprises a block copolymer, an acidic polymer, a unimodalionomer, a bimodal ionomer, a modified unimodal ionomer, a modifiedbimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamer, a polyamide, a thermoplastic orthermoset polyurethane or thermoplastic or thermoset polyurea, or amulticomponent blend composition (“MCBC”), the MCBC comprising (A) ablock copolymer; and (B) one or more acidic polymers; and (C) one ormore basic metal salts present in an amount to neutralize at greaterthan or equal to about 30 percent of the acid groups of Component (B),and any and all combinations thereof.

In another aspect the golf ball is a four-piece ball with the LCP blendcomposition used in one or more of the inner and outer intermediatelayer and the outer cover layer comprises a block copolymer, an acidicpolymer, a unimodal ionomer, a bimodal ionomer, a modified unimodalionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamer, a polyamide, athermoplastic or thermoset polyurethane or thermoplastic or thermosetpolyurea, or a multicomponent blend composition (“MCBC”), the MCBCcomprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B) one or more acidic polymers;and (C) one or more basic metal salts present in an amount to neutralizeat greater than or equal to about 30 percent of the acid groups ofComponent (B), and any and all combinations thereof.

In another aspect the golf ball is a five-piece ball with the LCP blendcomposition used in one or more of the intermediate or mantle layers andthe outer cover layer comprises a block copolymer, an acidic polymer, aunimodal ionomer, a bimodal ionomer, a modified unimodal ionomer, amodified bimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamer, a polyamide, a thermoplasticor thermoset polyurethane or thermoplastic or thermoset polyurea, or amulticomponent blend composition (“MCBC”), the MCBC comprising (A) ablock copolymer; and (B) one or more acidic polymers; and (C) one ormore basic metal salts present in an amount to neutralize at greaterthan or equal to about 30 percent of the acid groups of Component (B),and any and all combinations thereof.

The golf ball of the present invention may comprise from 0 to 6,preferably from 0 to 5, more preferably from about 1 to about 4, mostpreferably from about 1 to about 3 intermediate layer(s).

The one or more intermediate layers of the golf balls may have athickness of from about 0.010 to about 0.400, preferably from about0.020 to about 0.200 and most preferably from about 0.030 to about 0.100inches.

The one or more intermediate layers of the golf balls may also have aShore D hardness as measured on the ball of greater than about 25,preferably greater than about 40, and most preferably greater than about50 Shore D units.

The outer cover layer of the balls may have a thickness of from about0.015 to about 0.100, preferably from about 0.020 to about 0.080, morepreferably from about 0.025 to about 0.060 inches.

The outer cover layer the balls may also have a Shore D hardness asmeasured on the ball of from about 30 to about 75, preferably from 38 toabout 68 and most preferably from about 40 to about 65.

The core of the balls also may have a PGA compression of less than about140, preferably less than about 100, and most preferably less than about90.

The various core layers (including the center) if present may eachexhibit a different hardness. The difference between the center hardnessand that of the next adjacent layer, as well as the difference inhardness between the various core layers may be greater than 2,preferably greater than 5, most preferably greater than 10 units ofShore D.

In one preferred aspect, the hardness of the center and each sequentiallayer increases progressively outwards from the center to outer corelayer.

In another preferred aspect, the hardness of the center and eachsequential layer decreases progressively inwards from the outer corelayer to the center.

The core of the balls may have a diameter of from about 0.5 to about1.62, preferably from about 0.7 to about 1.60, more preferably fromabout 0.9 to about 1.58, yet more preferably from about 1.20 to about1.54, and even more preferably from about 1.40 to about 1.50 in.

More specifically, for a three piece golf ball consisting of a core, amantle, and a cover, the diameter of the core is most preferably greaterthan or equal to 1.41 inches in diameter.

More specifically, for a four piece golf ball (consisting of a core, aninner mantle, an outer mantle, and a cover wherein the inner mantle isencased by an outer mantle) the diameter of the core is most preferablygreater than or equal to 1.00 inches in diameter.

More specifically, for a five piece golf ball (consisting of an innercore, an outer core, an inner mantle, an outer mantle, and a coverwherein the inner core and inner mantle are encased by outer core andouter mantle, respectively) the diameter of the core is most preferablygreater than or equal to 1.00 inches in diameter.

The COR of the golf balls may be greater than about 0.700, preferablygreater than about 0.730, more preferably greater than 0.750, mostpreferably greater than 0.775, and especially greater than 0.800 at 125ft/sec inbound velocity.

The shear cut resistance of the golf balls of the present invention isless than about 4, preferably less than about 3, even more preferablyless than about 2.

These and other aspects of the present invention may be more fullyunderstood by reference to the following examples. While these examplesare meant to be illustrative of golf balls and golf ball components madeaccording to the present invention, the present invention is not meantto be limited by the following examples.

EXAMPLES

VECTRA® A950 is an aromatic copolyester that is believed to consist of70mol % p-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) and 30 mol % of 2,6-hydroxynaphthoicacid (HNA) and available from Topas Advanced Polymers.

SURLYN® 8320 is an ethylene/methacrylic acid (E/MAA) copolymer, in whichthe MAA acid groups have been partially neutralized with sodium ions andis available from Du Pont.

The various test properties which may be used to measure the propertiesof the golf balls of the present invention are described below includingany test methods as defined below.

Core or ball diameter may be determined by using standard linearcalipers or size gauge.

Compression may be measured by applying a spring-loaded force to thegolf ball center, golf ball core, or the golf ball to be examined, witha manual instrument (an “Atti gauge”) manufactured by the AttiEngineering Company of Union City, N.J. This machine, equipped with aFederal Dial Gauge, Model D81-C, employs a calibrated spring under aknown load. The sphere to be tested is forced a distance of 0.2 inch (5mm) against this spring. If the spring, in turn, compresses 0.2 inch,the compression is rated at 100; if the spring compresses 0.1 inch, thecompression value is rated as 0. Thus more compressible, softermaterials will have lower Atti gauge values than harder, lesscompressible materials. Compression measured with this instrument isalso referred to as PGA compression. The approximate relationship thatexists between Atti or PGA compression and Riehle compression can beexpressed as:

(Atti or PGA compression)=(160−Riehle Compression).

Thus, a Riehle compression of 100 would be the same as an Atticompression of 60.

COR may be measured using a golf ball or golf ball subassembly, aircannon, and a stationary steel plate. The steel plate provides an impactsurface weighing about 100 pounds or about 45 kilograms. A pair ofballistic light screens, which measure ball velocity, are spaced apartand located between the air cannon and the steel plate. The ball isfired from the air cannon toward the steel plate over a range of testvelocities from 50 ft/s to 180 ft/sec (for the tests used herein thevelocity was 125 ft/sec). As the ball travels toward the steel plate, itactivates each light screen so that the time at each light screen ismeasured. This provides an incoming time period proportional to theball's incoming velocity. The ball impacts the steel plate and reboundsthough the light screens, which again measure the time period requiredto transit between the light screens. This provides an outgoing transittime period proportional to the ball's outgoing velocity. Thecoefficient of restitution can be calculated by the ratio of theoutgoing transit time period to the incoming transit time period,COR=T_(Out)/T_(in).

A “Mooney” viscosity is a unit used to measure the plasticity of raw orunvulcanized rubber. The plasticity in a Mooney unit is equal to thetorque, measured on an arbitrary scale, on a disk in a vessel thatcontains rubber at a temperature of 100° C. and rotates at tworevolutions per minute. The measurement of Mooney viscosity is definedaccording to ASTM D-1646.

Shore D hardness may be measured in accordance with ASTM Test D2240.

Melt flow index (MFI, 12) may be measured in accordance with ASTMD-1238, Condition 230° C./2.16 kg.

Tensile Strength and Tensile Elongation were measured with ASTM D-638.

Flexural modulus and flexural strength were measured using ASTM standardD-790.

Shear cut resistance may be determined by examining the balls after theywere impacted by a pitching wedge at controlled speed, classifying eachnumerically from 1 (excellent) to 5 (poor), and averaging the resultsfor a given ball type. Three samples of each Example may be used forthis testing. Each ball is hit twice, to collect two impact data pointsper ball. Then, each ball is assigned two numerical scores-one for eachimpact-from 1 (no visible damage) to 5 (substantial material displaced).These scores may be then averaged for each Example to produce the shearresistance numbers. These numbers may be then directly compared with thecorresponding number for a commercially available ball, having a similarconstruction including the same core and mantle composition and coverthickness for comparison purposes.

Impact durability may be tested with an endurance test machine. Theendurance test machine is designed to impart repetitive deformation to agolf ball similar to a driver impact. The test machine consists of anarm and impact plate or club face that both rotate to a speed thatgenerates ball speeds of approximately 155-160 mph. Ball speed ismeasured with two light sensors located 15.5″ from impact location andare 11″ apart. The ball is stopped by a net and if a test sample is notcracked will continue to cycle through the machine for additionalimpacts. For golf balls, if zero failures occur through in excess of 100impacts per ball than minimal field failures will occur. For layersadjacent to the outer cover, fewer impacts are required since the covertypically “protects” the inner components of the golf ball.

Golf ball Sound Pressure Level, S, in decibels (dB) and Frequency inhertz (Hz) may be measured by dropping the ball from a height of 113 inonto a marble (“starnet crystal pink”) stage of at least 12″ square and4.25 inches in thickness. The sound of the resulting impact is capturedby a microphone positioned at a fixed proximity of 12 inches, and at anangle of 30 degrees from horizontal, from the impact position andresolved by software transformation into an intensity in db and afrequency in Hz. Data collection is done as follows:

Microphone data is collected using a laptop PC with a sound card. AnA-weighting filter is applied to the analog signal from the microphone.This signal is then digitally sampled at 44.1 KHz by the laptop dataacquisition system for further processing and analysis. Data Analysiswas done as follows:

The data analysis is split into two processes:

a. Time series analysis that generates the root mean square (rms) soundpressure level (SPL) for each ball impact sound.

-   -   i. An rms SPL from a reference calibration signal is generated        in the same manner as the ball data.    -   ii. The overall SPL (in decibels) is calculated from the        reference signal for each ball impact sound.    -   iii. The median SPL is recorded based on 3 impact tests.

b. Spectral analyses for each ball impact sound

-   -   i. Fourier and Autoregressive spectral estimation techniques are        employed to create power spectra.    -   ii. The frequencies (in cycles/sec—Hz) from highest level peaks        representing the most active sound producing vibration modes of        each ball are identified.

Examples 1-3

A series of samples were prepared from a blend of an SURLYN® 8320 and20, 30 or 40 pph of the LCP, VECTRA® A950 (Ex's 1, 2 and 3respectively). The blends were prepared using twin screw extruder usinga barrel temperature of 150° C.˜340° C., a screw speed of 150˜350 rpm,and a feed rate of 120˜250 g/min. Comparative Example 1 was a sample ofthe unblended starting material SURLYN® 8320.

TABLE 2 Properties of Blends of LCP Polymer Comp Ex 1 Ex 1 Ex 2 Ex 3Surlyn ® 8320 (pph) 100 100 100 100 Vectra ® A950 (pph) 20 30 40 TS(psi) 2156 2443 2421 2509 TE (%) 443 400 324 237 FS (psi) 34 48 60 83 FM(kpsi) 4.1 5.7 7.1 9.8 Shore D 36.5 44.3 43.2 45.1

Analysis of the data for Ex 1, 2 and 3 and Comparative Ex 1 demonstratethat addition of 20 pph VECTRA® A950 to the ionomer results in in a hugeincrease in the mechanical properties of the blend including tensilestrength and flexural strength and more importantly from a golf ballperformance perspective, in the flexural modulus, which properties arefurther increased by increasing the VECTRA® A950 content to 30 pph and40 pph. At the same time, little change is observed in the Shore Dhardness showing that use of the LCP can result in increase in strengthproperties without increasing the hardness of the material.

We claim:
 1. A golf ball comprising; I) a core; II) optionally one ormore intermediate layers; and III) an outer cover layer, and whereinsaid outer cover layer comprises a blend composition comprising; A) offrom about 2 to about 60 wt % (based on the total weight of the blendcomposition) of an LCP having the general formula;

wherein said LCP comprises of from about 10 to about 90 mole percent ofmoiety X, and of from about 10 to about 90 mole percent of moiety Y andoptionally each of the aromatic rings may include substitution of atleast one or more of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ringwith a substituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl groupof 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halogroup, and any and all mixtures thereof; and B) of from about 40 toabout 98 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) ofone or more additional polymer components; and wherein said blendcomposition has; i) a melt flow index (MFI) of from about Ito about 80g/I 0 min.; ii) a material hardness of from about 20 to about 90 ShoreD; and iii) a flex modulus of from about 1 to about 120 kpsi.
 2. Thegolf ball of claim 1 wherein said blend composition comprises; A) offrom about 8 to about 50 wt % (based on the total weight of the blendcomposition) of said LCP wherein said LCP comprises of from about 65 toabout 85 mole percent of moiety X, and of from about 15 to about 35 molepercent of moiety Y; and B) from about 50 to about 92 wt % (based on thetotal weight of the blend composition) of said additional blendcomponent which is selected from the group consisting of a blockcopolymer, an acidic polymer, a unimodal ionomer, a bimodal ionomer, amodified unimodal ionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamer,a polyamide, a thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethane or thermoplasticor thermoset polyurea, or a multicomponent blend composition (“MCBC”),the MCBC comprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B) one or more acidicpolymers; and (C) one or more basic metal salts present in an amount toneutralize at greater than or equal to about 30 percent of the acidgroups of Component (B), and any and all combinations thereof; andwherein said blend composition has; i) a melt flow index (MFI) of fromabout 8 to about 40 g/10 min.; ii) a material hardness of from about 30to about 75 Shore D; and iii) a flex modulus of from about 3 to about 80kpsi.
 3. The golf ball of Claim I wherein said blend compositioncomprises; A) from about 10 to about 45 wt % (based on the total weightof the blend composition) of said LCP wherein said LCP comprises of fromabout 70 to about 80 mole percent of moiety X, and of from about 20 toabout 30 mole percent of moiety Y; and B) from about 55 to about 90 wt %(based on the total weight of the blend composition) of said additionalblend component which is selected from the group consisting of a blockcopolymer, a unimodal ionomer, a bimodal ionomer, a modified unimodalionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamer a thermoplasticpolyurethane, a thermoplastic polyurea, a thermoset polyurethane, athermoset polyurea, a polyamide, a multicomponent blend composition(“MCBC”) comprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B) one or more acidicpolymers; and (C) one or more basic metal salts present in an amount toneutralize at greater than or equal to about 30 percent of the acidgroups of Component (B) and any and all combinations thereof; andwherein said blend composition has; i) a melt flow index (MFI) of fromabout 10 to about 30 g/10 min.; ii) a material hardness of from about 35to about 70 Shore D; and iii) a flex modulus of from about 4 to about 70kpsi.
 4. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said core; a) has a diameterof from about 0.5 to about 1.62 inches; b) has a PGA compression of lessthan about 100; and c) comprises a peptizer selected from the groupconsisting of an organic sulfur compound, a metal salt of an organicsulfur compound, a non-metal salt of an organic sulfur compound, and anyand all combinations thereof.
 5. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein saidcore; a) has a diameter of from about 0.7 to about 1.60 in; b) has a PGAcompression of less than about 90; and c) further comprises one or morecore layers each exhibiting a different hardness wherein the differencein hardness between each core layer is greater than 5 units of Shore D.6. The golf ball of claim 5 wherein the hardness of the core center andeach sequential core layers increases progressively outwards from thecenter to the outer core layer.
 7. The golf ball of claim 5 wherein thehardness of the core center and each sequential core layers decreasesprogressively outwards from the center to the outer core layer.
 8. Agolf ball comprising; I) a core; II) one or more intermediate layers;and III) an outer cover layer, and wherein said one or more intermediatelayers comprises a blend composition comprising; A) of from about 2 toabout 60 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) of anLCP having the general formula;

wherein said LCP comprises of from about 10 to about 90 mole percent ofmoiety X, and of from about 10 to about 90 mole percent of moiety Y andoptionally each of the aromatic rings may include substitution of atleast one or more of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ringwith a substituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl groupof 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halogroup, and any and all mixtures thereof; and B) of from about 40 toabout 98 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) ofone or more additional polymer components; and wherein said blendcomposition has; i) a melt flow index (MFI) of from about 1 to about 80g/10 min.; a material hardness of from about 20 to about 90 Shore D; andiii) a flex modulus of from about 1 to about 120 kpsi.
 9. The golf ballof claim 8 wherein said blend composition comprises; A) of from about 8to about 50 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) ofsaid LCP wherein said LCP comprises of from about 65 to about 85 molepercent of moiety X, and of from about 15 to about 35 mole percent ofmoiety Y; and B) from about 50 to about 92 wt % (based on the totalweight of the blend composition) of said additional blend componentwhich is selected from the group consisting of a block copolymer, anacidic polymer, a unimodal ionomer, a bimodal ionomer, a modifiedunimodal ionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamer, apolyamide, a thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethane or thermoplastic orthermoset polyurea, or a multicomponent blend composition (“MCBC”), theMCBC comprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B) one or more acidicpolymers; and (C) one or more basic metal salts present in an amount toneutralize at greater than or equal to about 30 percent of the acidgroups of Component (B), and any and all combinations thereof; andwherein said blend composition has; i) a melt flow index (MFI) of fromabout 8 to about 40 g/10 min.; ii) a material hardness of from about 30to about 75 Shore D; and iii) a flex modulus of from about 3 to about 80kpsi.
 10. The golf ball of claim 8 wherein said blend compositioncomprises; A) of from about 10 to about 45 wt % (based on the totalweight of the blend composition) of said LCP wherein said LCP comprisesof from about 70 to about 80 mole percent of moiety X, and of from about20 to about 30 mole percent of moiety Y; and B) from about 55 to about90 wt (based on the total weight of the blend composition) of saidadditional blend component which is selected from the group consistingof a block copolymer, a unimodal ionomer, a bimodal ionomer, a modifiedunimodal ionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamer athermoplastic polyurethane, a thermoplastic polyurea, a thermosetpolyurethane, a thermoset poly urea, a polyamide, a multicomponent blendcomposition (“MCBC”) comprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B) one ormore acidic polymers; and (C) one or more basic metal salts present inan amount to neutralize at greater than or equal to about 30 percent ofthe acid groups of Component (B) and any and all combinations thereof;and wherein said blend composition has; i) a melt flow index (MF1) offrom about 10 to about 30 g/10 min.; ii) a material hardness of fromabout 35 to about 70 Shore D; and iii) a flex modulus of from about 4 toabout 70 kpsi.
 11. The golf ball of claim 8 wherein said core; a) has adiameter of from about 0.5 to about 1.62 inches; b) has a PGAcompression of less than about 100; and c) comprises a peptizer selectedfrom the group consisting of an organic sulfur compound, a metal salt ofan organic sulfur compound, a non-metal salt of an organic sulfurcompound, and any and all combinations thereof.
 12. The golf ball ofclaim 8 wherein said core; a) has a diameter of from about 0.9 to about1.58 inches; b) has a PGA compression of less than about 90; and c)further comprises one or more core layers each exhibiting a differenthardness wherein the difference in hardness between each core layer isgreater than 5 units of Shore D.
 13. The golf ball of claim 12 whereinthe hardness of the core center and each sequential core layersincreases progressively outwards from the center to the outer corelayer.
 14. The golf ball of claim 12 wherein the hardness of the corecenter and each sequential core layers decreases progressively outwardsfrom the center to the outer core layer.
 15. A two piece ball consistingessentially of; I) a core; and II) an outer cover layer having athickness of from about 0.015 to about 0.100 inches and a Shore Dhardness as measured on the ball of from about 30 to about 75; andwherein said outer cover layer comprises a blend composition comprising;A) of from about 2 to about 60 wt % (based on the total weight of theblend composition) of an LCP having the general formula;

wherein said LCP comprises of from about 10 to about 90 mole percent ofmoiety X, and of from about 10 to about 90 mole percent of moiety Y andoptionally each of the aromatic rings may include substitution of atleast one or more of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ringwith a substituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl groupof 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halogroup, and any and all mixtures thereof; and B) of from about 40 toabout 98 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) ofone or more additional polymer components; and wherein said blendcomposition has; i) a melt flow index (MFI) of from about 1 to about 80g/10 min.; ii) a material hardness of from about 20 to about 90 Shore D;and iii) a flex modulus of from about 1 to about 120 kpsi.
 16. The twopiece golf ball of claim 15 wherein said outer cover layer has athickness of from about 0.020 to about 0.080 inches and a Shore Dhardness as measured on the ball of from about 38 to about 68; andcomprises said blend composition wherein said blend compositioncomprises; A) of from about 8 to about 50 wt % (based on the totalweight of the blend composition) of said LCP wherein said LCP comprisesof from about 65 to about 85 mole percent of moiety X, and of from about15 to about 35 mole percent of moiety Y; and B) from about 50 to about92 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) of saidadditional blend component which is selected from the group consistingof a block copolymer, an acidic polymer, a unimodal ionomer, a bimodalionomer, a modified unimodal ionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer, apolyalkenamer, a polyamide, a thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethane orthermoplastic or thermoset polyurea, or a multicomponent blendcomposition (“MCBC”), the MCBC comprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B)one or more acidic polymers; and (C) one or more basic metal saltspresent in an amount to neutralize at greater than or equal to about 30percent of the acid groups of Component (B), and any and allcombinations thereof; and wherein said blend composition has a i) a meltflow index (MFI) of from about 8 to about 40 g/10 min.; ii) a materialhardness of from about 30 to about 75 Shore D; and iii) a flex modulusof from about 3 to about 80 kpsi.
 17. The two piece golf ball of claim15 wherein said outer cover layer has a thickness of from about 0.025inches to about 0.060 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured on theball of from about 40 to about 65; and comprises said blend compositionwherein said blend composition comprises; A) from about 10 to about 45wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) of said LCPwherein said LCP comprises of from about 70 to about 80 mole percent ofmoiety X, and of from about 20 to about 30 mole percent of moiety Y; andB) from about 55 to about 90 wt % (based on the total weight of theblend composition) of said additional blend component which is selectedfrom the group consisting of a block copolymer, a unimodal ionomer, abimodal ionomer, a modified unimodal ionomer, a modified bimodalionomer, a polyalkenamer a thermoplastic polyurethane, a thermoplasticpolyurea, a thermoset polyurethane, a thermoset polyurea, a polyamide, amulticomponent blend composition (“MCBC”) comprising (A) a blockcopolymer; and (B) one or more acidic polymers; and (C) one or morebasic metal salts present in an amount to neutralize at greater than orequal to about 30 percent of the acid groups of Component (B) and anyand all combinations thereof; and wherein said blend composition has; i)a melt flow index (MFI) of from about 10 to about 30 g/10 min.; ii) amaterial hardness of from about 35 to about 70 Shore D; and iii) a flexmodulus of from about 4 to about 70 kpsi.
 18. The two piece golf ball ofclaim 15 wherein said core; a) has a diameter of from about 0.9 to about1.58 inches; b) has a PGA compression of less than about 140; and c)comprises a peptizer selected from the group consisting of an organicsulfur compound, a metal salt of an organic sulfur compound, a non-metalsalt of an organic sulfur compound, and any and all combinationsthereof.
 19. A three piece golf ball consisting essentially of; I) acore; II) an outer cover layer having a thickness of from about 0.015 toabout 0.100 inches a Shore D hardness as measured on the ball of fromabout 30 to about 75, and III) an intermediate layer having a thicknessof from about 0.010 to about 0.400 inches and a Shore D hardness asmeasured on the ball of greater than about 25; and wherein saidintermediate layer comprises a blend composition comprising; A) of fromabout 2 to about 60 wt % (based on the total weight of the blendcomposition) of an LCP having the general formula;

wherein said LCP comprises of from about 10 to about 90 mole percent ofmoiety X, and of from about 10 to about 90 mole percent of moiety Y andoptionally each of the aromatic rings may include substitution of atleast one or more of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ringwith a substituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl groupof 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halogroup, and any and all mixtures thereof; and B) of from about 40 toabout 98 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) ofone or more additional polymer components; and i) a melt flow index(MFI) of from about 1 to about 80 g/10 min.; ii) a material hardness offrom about 20 to about 90 Shore D; and iii) a flex modulus of from about1 to about 120 kpsi.
 20. The three piece golf ball of claim 19 wherein;I) said outer cover layer has a thickness of from about 0.020 to about0.080 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured on the ball of fromabout 38 to about 68, and II) said intermediate layer has a thickness offrom about 0.02 to about 0.200 inches and a Shore D hardness as measuredon the ball of greater than about 40; and comprises said blendcomposition wherein said blend composition comprises; A) of from about 8to about 50 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) ofsaid LCP wherein said LCP comprises of from about 65 to about 85 molepercent of moiety X, and of from about 15 to about 35 mole percent ofmoiety Y; and B) from about 50 to about 92 wt % (based on the totalweight of the blend composition) of said additional blend componentwhich is selected from the group consisting of a block copolymer, anacidic polymer, a unimodal ionomer, a bimodal ionomer, a modifiedunimodal ionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamer, apolyamide, a thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethane or thermoplastic orthermoset polyurea, or a multicomponent blend composition (“MCBC”), theMCBC comprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B) one or more acidicpolymers; and (C) one or more basic metal salts present in an amount toneutralize at greater than or equal to about 30 percent of the acidgroups of Component (B), and any and all combinations thereof; andwherein said blend composition has; i) a melt flow index (MFI) of fromabout 8 to about 40 g/10 min; ii) a material hardness of from about 30to about 75 Shore D; and iii) a flex modulus of from about 3 to about 80kpsi.
 21. The three piece golf ball of claim 19 wherein said I) saidouter cover layer has a thickness of from about 0.025 to about 0.060inches and a Shore D hardness as measured on the ball of from about 40to about 65, and comprises a polymer selected from the group consistingof ionomers, thermoset polyureas, thermoset polyurethanes, thermoplasticpolyurethanes, thermoplastic polyureas, a multicomponent blendcomposition (“MCBC”) comprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B) one ormore acidic polymers; and (C) one or more basic metal salts present inan amount to neutralize at greater than or equal to about 30 percent ofthe acid groups of Component (B), and any and all combinations thereof;II) said intermediate layer has thickness of from about 0.03 to about0.10 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured on the ball of greaterthan about 50 and comprises said blend composition wherein said blendcomposition comprises A) from about 10 to about 45 wt % (based on thetotal weight of the blend composition) of said LCP wherein said LCPcomprises of from about 70 to about 80 mole percent of moiety X, and offrom about 20 to about 30 mole percent of moiety Y; and B) from about 55to about 90 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) ofsaid additional blend component which is selected from the groupconsisting of a block copolymer, a unimodal ionomer, a bimodal ionomer,a modified unimodal ionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamera thermoplastic polyurethane, a thermoplastic polyurea, a thermosetpolyurethane, a thermoset polyurea, a polyamide, a multicomponent blendcomposition (“MCBC”) comprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B) one ormore acidic polymers; and (C) one or more basic metal salts present inan amount to neutralize at greater than or equal to about 30 percent ofthe acid groups of Component (B) and any and all combinations thereof;and wherein said blend composition has; i) a melt flow index (MFI) offrom about 10 to about 30 g/10 min.; ii) a material hardness of fromabout 35 to about 70 Shore D; and iii) a flex modulus of from about 4 toabout 70 kpsi.
 22. The three piece golf ball of claim 19 wherein saidcore; a) has a diameter greater than or equal to 1 inch; b) has a PGAcompression of less than about 140; and c) comprises a peptizer selectedfrom the group consisting of an organic sulfur compound, a metal salt ofan organic sulfur compound, a non-metal salt of an organic sulfurcompound, and any and all combinations thereof.
 23. A four piece golfball consisting essentially of; I) a core; II) an inner intermediatelayer having a thickness of from about 0.010 to about 0.400 inches and aShore D hardness as measured on the ball of greater than about 25; III)an outer intermediate layer having a thickness of from about 0.010 toabout 0.400 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured on the ball ofgreater than about 25; and IV) an outer cover layer having a thicknessof from about 0.015 to about 0.100 inches and a Shore D hardness asmeasured on the ball of from about 30 to about 75, and wherein saidouter intermediate layer comprises a blend composition comprising; A) offrom about 2 to about 60 wt % (based on the total weight of the blendcomposition) of an LCP having the general formula;

wherein said LCP comprises of from about 10 to about 90 mole percent ofmoiety X, and of from about 10 to about 90 mole percent of moiety Y andoptionally each of the aromatic rings may include substitution of atleast one or more of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ringwith a substituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl groupof 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halogroup, and any and all mixtures thereof; and B) of from about 40 toabout 98 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) ofone or more additional polymer components; and wherein said blendcomposition has; i) a melt flow index (MFI) of from about 1 to about 80g/10 min.; ii) a material hardness of from about 20 to about 90 Shore D;and iii) a flex modulus of from about 1 to about 120 kpsi.
 24. The fourpiece golf ball of claim 23 wherein I) said inner intermediate layer hasa thickness of from about 0.020 to about 0.200 inches and a Shore Dhardness as measured on the ball of greater than about 40; II) saidouter intermediate layer having a thickness of from about 0.020 to about0.200 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured on the ball of greaterthan about 40; and III) said outer cover layer has a thickness of fromabout 0.020 to about 0.080 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured onthe ball of from about 38 to about 68, and wherein said outerintermediate layer comprises said blend composition and wherein saidblend composition comprises; A) of from about 8 to about 50 wt % (basedon the total weight of the blend composition) of said LCP wherein saidLCP comprises of from about 65 to about 85 mole percent of moiety X, andof from about 15 to about 35 mole percent of moiety Y; and B) from about50 to about 92 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition)of said additional blend component which is selected from the groupconsisting of a block copolymer, an acidic polymer, a unimodal ionomer,a bimodal ionomer, a modified unimodal ionomer, a modified bimodalionomer, a polyalkenamer, a polyamide, a thermoplastic or thermosetpolyurethane or thermoplastic or thermoset polyurea, or a multicomponentblend composition (“MCBC”), the MCBC comprising (A) a block copolymer;and (B) one or more acidic polymers; and (C) one or more basic metalsalts present in an amount to neutralize at greater than or equal toabout 30 percent of the acid groups of Component (B), and any and allcombinations thereof; and wherein said blend composition has; i) a meltflow index (MFI) of from about 8 to about 40 g/10 min.; ii) a materialhardness of from about 30 to about 75 Shore D; and m) a flex modulus offrom about 3 to about 80 kpsi.
 25. The four piece golf ball of claim 23wherein I) said inner intermediate layer having a thickness of fromabout 0.030 to about 0.100 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured onthe ball of greater than about 50; II) said outer intermediate layerhaving a thickness of from about 0.030 to about 0.100 inches and a ShoreD hardness as measured on the ball of greater than about 50; and III)said outer cover layer having a thickness of from about 0.025 to about0.060 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured on the ball of fromabout 40 to about 65, and wherein said outer intermediate layercomprises said blend composition and wherein said blend compositioncomprises; A) from about 10 to about 45 wt % (based on the total weightof the blend composition) of said LCP wherein said LCP comprises of fromabout 70 to about 80 mole percent of moiety X, and of from about 20 toabout 30 mole percent of moiety Y; and B) from about 55 to about 90 wt %(based on the total weight of the blend composition) of said additionalblend component which is selected from the group consisting of a blockcopolymer, an acidic polymer, a unimodal ionomer, a bimodal ionomer, amodified unimodal ionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamer,a polyamide, a thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethane or thermoplasticor thermoset polyurea, or a multicomponent blend composition (“MCBC”),the MCBC comprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B) one or more acidicpolymers; and (C) one or more basic metal salts present in an amount toneutralize at greater than or equal to about 30 percent of the acidgroups of Component (B), and any and all combinations thereof; andwherein said blend composition has; i) a melt flow index (MFI) of fromabout 10 to about 30 g/10 min.; ii) a material hardness of from about 35to about 70 Shore D; and iii) a flex modulus of from about 4 to about 70kpsi.; and wherein a) said inner intermediate layer comprises apolyalkenamer having a trans-content of from about 40 to about 95%, acis-content of from about 5 to about 60%, and a melting point of greaterthan about 15° C.; b) said outer cover layer comprises a polymerselected from the group consisting of ionomers, thermoset polyureas,thermoset polyurethanes, thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplasticpolyureas, a multicomponent blend composition (“MCBC”) comprising (A) ablock copolymer; and (B) one or more acidic polymers; and (C) one ormore basic metal salts present in an amount to neutralize at greaterthan or equal to about 30 percent of the acid groups of Component (B),and any and all combinations thereof.
 26. The four piece golf ball ofclaim 23 wherein said core; a) has a diameter greater than or equal to Iinch; b) a PGA compression of less than about 140; and c) comprises apeptizer selected from the group consisting of an organic sulfurcompound, a metal salt of an organic sulfur compound, a non-metal saltof an organic sulfur compound, and any and all combinations thereof. 27.A five piece golf ball consisting essentially of; I) a core; II) aninner intermediate layer having a thickness of from about 0.010 to about0.400 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured on the ball of greaterthan about 25; III) an intermediate layer having a thickness of fromabout 0.010 to about 0.400 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured onthe ball of greater than about 25; IV) an outer intermediate layerhaving a thickness of from about 0.010 to about 0.400 inches and a ShoreD hardness as measured on the ball of greater than about 25; and V) anouter cover layer having a thickness of from about 0.015 to about 0.100inches and a Shore D hardness as measured on the ball of from about 30to about 75, and wherein said outer intermediate layer comprises a blendcomposition comprising; A) of from about 2 to about 60 wt % (based onthe total weight of the blend composition) of an LCP having the generalformula;

wherein said LCP comprises of from about 10 to about 90 mole percent ofmoiety X, and of from about 10 to about 90 mole percent of moiety Y andoptionally each of the aromatic rings may include substitution of atleast one or more of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ringwith a substituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl groupof 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halogroup, and any and all mixtures thereof; and B) of from about 40 toabout 98 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) ofone or more additional polymer components; and wherein said blendcomposition has; i) a melt flow index (MFI) of from about 1 to about 80g/10 min.; ii) a material hardness of from about 20 to about 90 Shore D;and iii) a flex modulus of from about I to about 120 kpsi.
 28. The fivepiece golf ball of claim 27 wherein I) said inner intermediate layer hasa thickness of from about 0.020 to about 0.200 inches and a Shore Dhardness as measured on the ball of greater than about 40; II) saidintermediate layer has a thickness of from about 0.020 to about 0.200inches and a Shore D hardness as measured on the ball of greater thanabout 40; III) said outer intermediate layer has a thickness of fromabout 0.020 to about 0.200 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured onthe ball of greater than about 40; and IV) said outer cover layer has athickness of from about 0.020 to about 0.080 inches and a Shore Dhardness as measured on the ball of from about 38 to about 68, andwherein said outer intermediate layer comprises a blend compositioncomprising; A) of from about 8 to about 50 wt % (based on the totalweight of the blend composition) of said LCP wherein said LCP comprisesof from about 65 to about 85 mole percent of moiety X, and of from about15 to about 35 mole percent of moiety Y; and B) from about 50 to about92 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) of saidadditional blend component which is selected from the group consistingof a block copolymer, an acidic polymer, a unimodal ionomer, a bimodalionomer, a modified unimodal ionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer, apolyalkenamer, a polyamide, a thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethane orthermoplastic or thermoset polyurea, or a multicomponent blendcomposition (“MCBC”), the MCBC comprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B)one or more acidic polymers; and (C) one or more basic metal saltspresent in an amount to neutralize at greater than or equal to about 30percent of the acid groups of Component (B), and any and allcombinations thereof; and wherein said blend composition has a i) a meltflow index (MFI) of from about 8 to about 40 g/10 min.; ii) a materialhardness of from about 30 to about 75 Shore D; and iii) a flex modulusof from about 3 to about 80 kpsi.
 29. The five piece golf ball of claim27 wherein I) said inner intermediate layer has a thickness of fromabout 0.030 to about 0.100 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured onthe ball of greater than about 50; II) said intermediate layer has athickness of from about 0.030 to about 0.100 inches and a Shore Dhardness as measured on the ball of greater than about 50; III) saidouter intermediate layer has a thickness of from about 0.030 to about0.100 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured on the ball of greaterthan about 50; and IV) said outer cover layer has a thickness of fromabout 0.025 to about 0.060 inches and a Shore D hardness as measured onthe ball of from about 40 to about 65, and wherein said outerintermediate layer comprises a blend composition comprising; A) fromabout 10 to about 45 wt % (based on the total weight of the blendcomposition) of said LCP wherein said LCP comprises of from about 70 toabout 80 mole percent of moiety X, and of from about 20 to about 30 molepercent of moiety Y; andand B) from about 55 to about 90 wt % (based onthe total weight of the blend composition) of said additional blendcomponent which is selected from the group consisting of a blockcopolymer, an acidic polymer, a unimodal ionomer, a bimodal ionomer, amodified unimodal ionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer, a polyalkenamer,a polyamide, a thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethane or thermoplasticor thermoset polyurea, or a multicomponent blend composition (“MCBC”),the MCBC comprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B) one or more acidicpolymers; and (C) one or more basic metal salts present in an amount toneutralize at greater than or equal to about 30 percent of the acidgroups of Component (B), and any and all combinations thereof; andwherein said blend composition has; i) a melt flow index (MFI) of fromabout 10 to about 30 g/10 min.; ii) a material hardness of from about 35to about 70 Shore D; and iii) a flex modulus of from about 4 to about 70kpsi.; and wherein a) said inner intermediate layer comprises apolyalkenamer having a trans-content of from about 40 to about 95%, acis-content of from about 5 to about 60%, and a melting point of greaterthan about 15° C.; b) said intermediate layer comprises an ionomer; andc) said outer cover layer comprises a polymer selected from the groupconsisting of ionomers, thermoset polyureas, thermoset polyurethanes,thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic polyureas, a multicomponentblend composition (“MCBC”) comprising (A) a block copolymer; and (B) oneor more acidic polymers; and (C) one or more basic metal salts presentin an amount to neutralize at greater than or equal to about 30 percentof the acid groups of Component (B), and any and all combinationsthereof.
 30. The golf ball of claim 27 wherein said core; a) has adiameter greater than or equal to 1 inch; b) a PGA compression of lessthan about 140; and c) comprises a peptizer selected from the groupconsisting of an organic sulfur compound, a metal salt of an organicsulfur compound, a non-metal salt of an organic sulfur compound, and anyand all combinations thereof.